BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
ZIMBABWE international midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is set to get some competitive game time ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Egypt after making his first appearance for Belgian football champions Club Brugge in over a month last week.
The star midfielder had been on the sidelines since picking a hip injury during a training session with Club Brugge on March 6, before being ruled out of action for close to eight weeks.
The injury saw Nakamba missing the Warriors’ final Afcon qualifier against Congo in March, although he made the trip to Harare to be with his Warriors teammates ahead of the match that Zimbabwe won 2-0 to secure a ticket to the finals set for June in Egypt.
However, in what should be in major boost for the Warriors ahead of the continental showpiece, Nakamba made a return to action for his club after coming on as a substitute during Club Brugge’s 1-0 win over Anderlecht in the ongoing Jupiler Pro League Championship Play-offs.
Nakamba is also expected to feature for Club Brugge, who are currently on second position on the six-team Jupiler Pro League Championship Play-off standings, when they take on log leaders Genk in back-to-back top-of-the-table clashes scheduled for today and next Sunday.
The Zimbabwean star will be hoping for a strong finish to the season but is enduring a frustrating season at the Belgian football champions after seeing limited game time this term after reportedly falling out with his Croatian coach Ivan Leko.
Leko, according to reports from Belgium last week, has also clashed with other senior players at the club such as captain Ruud Vormer, Hans Vanaken and Stefano Denswil.
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However, with the Croatian coach reportedly set to be replaced by current Feyenoord boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst when his contract runs out at the end of the season, Nakamba, who has made just 16 league appearances this year compared to 35 last year, will be eager to finish the campaign on a high.
Nakamba was a regular member of the Club Brugge side when he arrived in Belgium from the Netherlands last year as they won the league title in his maiden season at the club.
He followed that with strong eye-catching performances in his first games this season, including in the UEFA Champions League, which led to significant interest in his services across Europe, with English Premiership side West Ham United leading the charge to secure his signature.
