Jordan Zemura is elated at the prospect of joining the elite club of Zimbabweans that played in the English Premiership after helping Bournemouth gain promotion to the topflight recently.
The 22-year-old could become the fifth Zimbabwean to play in the EPL if Bournemouth retains him, which is highly likely given his performances. In his breakthrough season – 2021/22 – the marauding left-back has featured in 33 games, scoring three goals.
Interestingly, Zemura won the free-kick that resulted in Bournemouth’s solitary strike against Nottingham, which ultimately sealed the Cherries’ automatic promotion into EPL.
Legendary former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu [Coventry City], Benjani Mwaruwari [Portsmouth, Blackburn and Manchester City], and Aston Villa’s Marvellous Nakamba are the only Zimbabweans to have featured in the elite league.
Bournemouth won promotion to the Premier League after their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest last week. The south coast side has returned to the topflight at the second time of asking, relegated to the Championship in 2019-20.
The Zimbabwe international has starred in The Cherries’ fairy-tale run this season.
“This company is just breathtaking to be a part of. I can’t wait, and I hope to be among those names. It’s a great achievement for myself and my family,” the left-back told Sunday Mail.
Villa’s Nakamba was one of the first people to call him soon after his team’s promotion. “I know Marv (Nakamba); well, he is an older brother to me, but he was the first to congratulate me, so I can’t wait to meet him and play against him, God willing,” he added.
Zemura, who featured for the Warriors at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, was born in England, but his parents were born and bred in Zimbabwe.
“Watching Benjani play in the Premier League when I was a child was everything to me because I could see someone on the television who is from the same country as me playing at the highest stage, and it used to make me feel so proud.
“I haven’t had the chance to meet him, but I would love to sit down with him and ask him 1000 questions. The likes of Bruce and Peter, wow, what can I say? These names make every young Zimbabwean child dream of playing in the Premier League. My dad was a big fan of both, so I am sure he is just as happy as I am.”
