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Aston Villa thrash Ajax to move into quarter-finals

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Aston Villa thrash Ajax to move into quarter-finals

Aston Villa thrashed Ajax at a raucous Villa Park to move into the Europa Conference League quarter-finals – their first appearance in the last eight of a major European competition since 1998.

Goals from Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, substitute Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby sealed a thoroughly-deserved victory on a memorable night for the Villa fans.

After it finished 0-0 in the first leg in the Netherlands, Watkins scored his 22nd club goal of the season in all competitions when he superbly headed in Douglas Luiz’s right-wing corner in the 25th minute.

However, the England striker, named earlier on Thursday in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, went off in the 33rd minute with an injury.

Four-time European champions Ajax nearly scored an equaliser in the fifth minute of first-half injury time, but Matty Cash did excellently to clear Brian Brobbey’s effort off the line with keeper Emiliano Martinez well beaten.

Ajax were captained by England midfielder Jordan Henderson in his first club match in the country since leaving Liverpool last summer to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, only to then move to Ajax in January.

But Henderson lost possession in the build-up to Villa’s second goal, with Bailey producing great skill and two stepovers to create space before drilling into the net.

Ajax had midfielder Sivert Mannsverk sent off for two bookable offences in the 66th minute and Duran blasted in a third goal, with the ball going in off the underside of the crossbar. Diaby slotted in a fourth nine minutes from time to confirm their progress.

The draw for the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all take place on Friday, 15 March from 13:00 GMT at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland and you can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

Euro star Emery guides Villa to memorable night

Unai Emery has won the Europa League on four occasions in his career – three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015 and 2016) and once with Villarreal (2021) – and also took Arsenal to the final in 2019.

This result continues his incredible job at Villa, who were only out of the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference when they sacked Steven Gerrard and brought in the Spaniard. Emery won 15 of his 25 league matches to take the club up to seventh and back in Europe after a 13-year absence.

But Villa, European Cup winners, in 1982, will now be playing in a major European quarter-final for the first time since going out on away goals in the last eight of the Uefa Cup against Atletico Madrid 26 years ago.

Before the game, Emery called the match “another wonderful opportunity against one of the biggest and most historic clubs in European football”, adding “this is what Villa Park was made for”.

He urged the fans to play their part, and they certainly did with the match played in a superb atmosphere at a sold-out stadium.

After a pre-game interactive live show, pitchside flame-throwers and fireworks to build up the frenzy among the home fans, Villa were the better side and had seen Bailey and Diaby go close before Watkins scored.

The striker had earlier needed lengthy treatment after he slid in and caught visiting goalkeeper Diant Ramaj, with Watkins only able to continue after his left leg and knee was heavily strapped up with a cut as the cause.

But Watkins, who has scored three goals in nine appearances for England, still had time to make his mark.

He took his goal superbly but not long afterwards had to be helped off the pitch by Bailey, with both Champions-League chasing Villa and England hoping his injury is not a serious one, especially with the Euro 24 starting in exactly three months’ time.

Watkins’ replacement, Duran, shot just wide with two efforts, before Villa ran riot with three second-half goals to seal their passage into the next round.

A tough return to England for Henderson

Henderson and uncapped Ezri Konsa were also named in the England squad, although Konsa did not feature at Villa Park as he was suspended following a red card in the first leg in the Netherlands.

Henderson, with 81 England caps, was booed every time he touched the ball by the home fans, who also chanted about him being ‘greedy’ in reference to his Saudi move.

It has been a struggle so far in the Netherlands for the 33-year-old, who captained Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019. He has now played eight times for Ajax and won only once, with five draws and two losses.

He played a delightful first-time ball over the top only for Brobbey to be denied by excellent defending, but was also crucially robbed of possession before Villa’s second goal as it turned out to be a painful evening for the England man.

Player of the match

McGinnJohn McGinn

BBC

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ConCourt Decision Marks Defeat for Farai Matsika in Croco Motors Ownership Conflict

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Harare businessman Farai Matsika has lost a crucial Constitutional Court (ConCourt) bid to appeal a Supreme Court ruling that favored his cousin and business rival, Moses Chingwena, along with Chingwena’s companies.

The conflict between Matsika and Chingwena centers around the ownership and management of Croco Motors and its subsidiaries. While Chingwena manages Croco Motors and other businesses, Matsika now oversees Faramatsi Motors and Doves Holdings.

Matsika asserted he owned 30% of the conglomerate, a claim Chingwena disputed. The cousins, who grew up together, built the US$100 million empire before their fallout.

Matsika argued that his substantial contribution to the business entitled him to a 30% ownership, which Chingwena later denied, effectively removing Matsika from the companies without compensation.

Chingwena countered that Matsika’s legal claims were based on false information and a fraudulent shareholders’ agreement, contending that Matsika lacked the legal standing to bring the case to court.

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The courts sided with Chingwena, determining Matsika was not a shareholder and his application did not meet legal standards, thus dismissing it with costs.

Matsika’s subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court also failed after procedural issues were addressed. Matsika then sought a review of the Supreme Court’s decision, arguing it was made by a single judge. The court declined, stating the request was essentially an appeal in disguise.

Undeterred, Matsika applied to the ConCourt for permission to appeal to the highest court. However, the ConCourt, with judges Anne-Marie Gowora, Ben Hlatshwayo, and Bharat Patel presiding, ruled against him, stating Matsika had not demonstrated a strong chance of success on appeal.

The application was dismissed without a costs order.

This ruling concludes Matsika’s legal battle, leaving him feeling exploited by his cousin, while Chingwena maintains a different perspective.

Professor Lovemore Madhuku represented Matsika, while Advocate Thabani Mpofu represented Chingwena and his companies.

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Zimbabwe Cricket Announces New Coaching Staff for Senior Men’s National Team

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The selection of a new coaching staff for the Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Team has been decided by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).

ZC said in a statement released on July 4, 2024, that the coaching assignments follow the Mhishi Committee of Inquiry’s recommendations.

The team’s failure to qualify for the recently finished ICC Men’s T20 World Cup prompted the committee to look into the matter and offer recommendations. It stated:

The remaining technical staff members have now been revealed, after the introduction of Justin Sammons as Head Coach and Dion Ebrahim as Batting Coach last month.

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Coach of bowling will be former South African international cricketer Charl Langeveldt. Coaches of strength and conditioning and strategic performance will be fellow countrymen Ravish Gobind and Curtly Diesel.

Sammons was consulted before scheduling any appointments, and he decided to keep Stuart Matsikenyeri on as the team’s Fielding Coach. Amato Machikicho will remain the team’s Physiotherapist.

Zimbabwe Cricket has not yet finalised the Team Manager’s position, nevertheless.

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The Uhuru Cup Venue Worries The Highlanders Coach.

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HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu is feeling cautious about the venue as his side prepares for the Independence Cup match against rivals Dynamos at Murambinda B High School in Manicaland.

Kaindu told the media that he can only be sure of how he is going to approach the upcoming battle after assessing the pitch since it’s not a stadium.

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“We are not sure of the environment or in terms of the pitch that we are going to play, so I think that will also determine the type of football we are going to play.

“The pitch does affect everything interms of the equipment, I mean the soccer boots that the players use, so there are a number of factors when playing at such venues.

“Looking at the photos that we saw they are working on the field but we are hoping to see it physically and strategisize,” he said.

Highlanders are the defending champions of the Uhuru Cup after beating Dynamos 5-3 on penalties in Mt Darwin last year.

Bosso comes into Thursday’s encounter with confidence over their rivals whom they 2-0 on the opening day of the ongoing league marathon, marking Kaindu’s first win against Dynamos in his coaching career in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, both Highlanders and Dynamos have arrived in Murambinda ahead of the the big game.

The two sides travelled to the venue on Tuesday.

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