CONTENTS INSIDE 3 LAMPARD,CHELSEA PART WAYS 4 SHOCKING SUBTITUTION 5 EMMACULATE MSIPHA GERARD PIQUE'S STORY 6 QUENTIN FORTUNE IS PISSED OFF! 7 TSHAKUMA WOES REVEALED 8 ZDRAVKO NAMES WARRIORS SQUAD 9 RONALDO'S REPLACEMENT & MORE 10 TO ADVERTISE WITH US CONTACT: Mthandazo Nyathi Ian Tatenda Mutohnori The Designer The Reporter +27 84 739 2758 +263 71 213 9626 FEBRUARY 2021 2 EPL LAMPARD,CHELSEA PART WAYS Bye Bye Lampard wondering whether they was very much pushed by the Sports Grind Reporter were ever the long-term choice head coach. Ian Tatenda Mutonhori of owner Roman Abramovich Roman Abramovich's model and the Chelsea board or is brutal, simplistic and s a Highlanders fan whether they were always unpleasant — but Frank I got to hear the bad viewed as the best option Lampard knew it would never Anews that my favorite to get the Blues through change Abramovich even player Peter Muduwa will only a particular period that took the unprecedented step go to a Tanzanian club for just effectively finished at the end of explaining his decision to 8k to make it worse the fee is of last season. Lampard knew sack Lampard in Chelsea’s a loan fee while his contract the rules of engagement at confirmation statement, but expire end of season it means Chelsea better than anybody the Russian had not offered he goes for free . Sad indeed. I and he had been warned by any words of also got news that Lampy got former managers of the club encouragement at the end the boot at Chelsea. Again sad that the Stamford Bridge job of Lampard’s first season in indeed. was unlike any other in charge or during this season’s Chelsea confirmed the return of European football. And yet 17-game unbeaten run in all Frank Lampard as head coach even the 42-year-old, who competitions that had seen the last year, signing a three-year played under 10 different Blues Blues briefly move into Premier contract. The deal was two managers, would have League title contention and guaranteed years with the been taken aback by the breeze into the last-16 of the option of a third which means ruthless nature of the Chelsea Champions League. Chelsea was only suppose to hot seat after it became clear Instead, Abramovich and the pay Lampard six months’ of his that Champions League Chelsea board were more annual wage, which is around qualification and an FA Cup worried by the fact the club had £2 million. Lampard came in final at the end of his first finished last season 33 points after Maurizio Sarri had left for season in charge was viewed behind leaders Liverpool and Juventus, at a time when the as a passable achievement, 15 back of second-placed club had sold their best player, rather than any sort of success Manchester City. Either way the Eden Hazard, and were serving within the club. Rather than stories came at a time when I a transfer ban. That is not to being called in to discuss was sympathising with Chelsea say he did not deserve the job his impressive work with the and mourning Zimbabwe's or due diligence was not carried club’s academy graduates or back to back losses in out, but Stamford Bridge did extending his contract into its Cameroon. not have its normal pulling third year, Lampard was left power. The Blues would have in no doubt that fourth place been impressed by his work at would never be considered Derby County, who he took to good enough for Abramovich’s the Championship play-off final, Chelsea - no matter the but Lampard also provided circumstances. That is not to the club with some positive say Lampard was never backed PR, both with supporters and or supported because he was. beyond Stamford Bridge, at Chelsea spent £220m on new the time they most needed it. players last summer, including Now, 18 months later, Lampard £50m on left-back Ben Chilwell and his backroom staff will be whose signing FEBRUARY 2021 3 FOOTBALL WARRIORS SHOCKING SUBTITUTION Ian Tatenda Mutonhori state that in line with CAF’s interference with team selection Sports Grind Reporter medical guidelines, there was a therefore has no basis. The ZIFA test that we were supposed to Board has set up a commission he nation came to a be conduct on all players who of inquiry made up of shock when Amini was had recently recovered from experts to understand what substituted under three Covid-19 called Cardiac MRI test. exactly took place and whether it T “Our medical team checked was proper to field the player. minutes when Zimbabwe played Mali at the among radiology centres in the “ZIFA urges the public and media Chan tourney. country and there was none in to respect the privacy of the Although some had thought Zimbabwe conducting such health status of the player and it was a decision in relation to a test. ZIFA wrote to CAF to we wish the player a quick behaviour or a vandetta relatted arrange and facilitate that the recovery,” said Gwesela. the issue seems deep. affected CHAN players be tested In all this who is then to blame ? The Warriors technical seemmed in Cameroon. Why did Loga put him in? Did the to have taken a dangerous “All the affected players were whole technical team consider decision to field Amini while he tested upon arrival in Yaoundé the grave consequences had failed a cardiac test in a and the Board was notified that usually come with CHAN Group A dead rubber prior to the commencement of such complications among clash with Mali on Sunday night. the tournament that the player footballers? Why did they allow Defender Qadr Amini was was not fit to play due to the player to continue being diagnosed with some heart heart complications. involved after they were notified complications prior to the “A decision was made not to field of his condition by CAF. Studies football tournament and the the player until the recovery of have shown that with heart medical experts advised that he the player and subsequent problems, there is as much should be rested until further retests. The Board was shocked danger in training as there is in tests were conducted. to see the player in the starting playing the match itself. Since he had missed the opening line-up without the player The fact that he was even two matches at the CHAN having undergone another test. included in the team means he tournament in Cameroon, the “The technical and medical was putting in everything in defender was substituted just teams were engaged and could training. If they cared enough under three minutes into the not give a convincing about his health, why did they let game against Mali. explanation on why the player him involve himself in training, ZIFA have since launched was included. The Board then earning a chance to get into the investigations to establish how made a decision to order the team, when he had a dangerous the defender ended up in the technical team not to use the condition Warriors’ line-up despite expert player until a retest had been advice to exclude him on health conducted. grounds. The association’s “The decision was made in the Communications and interest of the player’s health. Competitions Manager, Xolisani The Board played its oversight Gwesela, said the decision to role to protect the player from exclude Amini, who was part of potential permanent harm that a group that tested positive for may have included death as Covid-19 during a training camp well as to safeguard the last month, was made by the reputation of the game of board. He insisted the player football. should not have been fielded. “The insinuations in some “ZIFA would like to categorically media platforms that such was FEBRUARY 2021 4 FOOTBALL MIGHTY WARRIOR say be our Ambassador for Zimbabwe women's football we EMMACULATE MSIPHA counting on you . #Sportsgrind ighty warriors skilful mean a lot to us as well as more midfielder moves to scouts will come searching for MSpain talent here in Zimbabwe all I can The Zimbabwe mighty warriors Emmaculate Msipha is set to join Spanish second Division side CF Juventut Almassora . The BlackRhinos Queens forward will be second player to have ply her trade in Spain after Rutendo Makore six month stint at Sporting De Huelva in 2018 . De Huelva was however playing at top fight league during Makore' s stay . The 27 year old is one of the top goal scorer for mighty warriors and has won couple of women of the match awards at virus Tournaments such as Cosafa .She was also named women's player of the year on Annual FUZ awards in 2019 . some fans who spoke to sportsgrind said she has done well for herself and the for nation it was about time she moved to greener pastures no doubt she will represent Zimbabwe well in Spain . This is great not only for her but women's football at large it shows we have great talent in Zimbabwe it just needs grooming and sponsorship for our women's league , it can do marvelous . One player said this give us hope as players it give us the spirit to fight and not give up in our dreams and if she does good there that will FEBRUARY 2021 5 FOOTBALL NEWS GERARD PIQUE'S STORY erard Pique Shares his love story First time GI met Shakira was in Madrid when we were filming the video for Waka Waka before the 2010 World cup and I asked for her number .she arrived in South Africa before us as she was singing at the opening ceremony.