Madziva is ready for red-hot capital clash
Neville Madziva admits he is still getting used to the Scottish weather - and Carlton’s Zimbabwean international can expect things to heat up this afternoon in the Edinburgh derby with Gen! us Grange in the Eastern Premier League.
Carlton had a good win at home to Arbroath in week two and now they are ready to make the trip to Portgower Place in week three.
The Grange Loan men finished second in the table behind Heriot’s in 2021 and, with a squad deep enough that they can bring former Ireland cap Rory Mccann and Hugo Southwell into their XI for today, they could well be title challengers again in 2022.
Madziva, the professional who arrived in Scotland just before the campaign began, played 12 One Day Internationals and 15 T20 Internationals for Zimbabwe between 2014 and 2019. He is also in the team that is headed for Stockbridge.
He said: “I have always wanted to try and play properly in the UK if I could and I am grateful to Carlton for giving me the opportunity, I will be playing for the first team and helping coach the junior section as well.
“I have really enjoyed my time here so far and everyone at the club has made me feel very welcome, I am still just getting used to the cold weather!
“We had a good team performance last weekend, but we know we will have to be better to beat Grange and I hear the clubs have had some good games over the years.
“I am looking forward to playing at the ground where Scotland play a lot of their games and I hope to help the team do well in the next few months.”
Grange have Gordon Goudie, Charlie Peet and Haris Ali coming into their side that lost at Heriot’s.
Forfarshire are top of the fledgling table and their skipper Scott Cameron has been able to name an unchanged XI to travel to Scroggie Park to take on Falkland.
The Fifers are looking for a first win since promotion and, with Graeme Watson, Steven Meikle and Ryan Jennings unavailable, they bring in Devon May, Cammy Paton and Andrew Gibson.
Stoneywood Dyce beat Falkland last week and the People’s Park side have been boosted by the availability of Lennard Bester for their trip to Arbroath.
South African-born Bester made 127 off just 93 balls including 12 fours and six sixes - seven days ago before he had to retire with a muscular issue around his ribs.
A few days of rest has sorted that issue out and he is in a Stoneywood XI that heads for Lochlands.
Leighton Collins comes into their side while Arbroath have Matthew Hurst, Matthew Parker and Pranav Saravanan returning to their XI.
Watsonians and Heriot’s both won in week two and they will meet at Myreside in what should be a keenlycontested clash. After scoring a century for the second XI last time out, Douglas Voas is added to the ‘Sonians line-up while Josh Stinson returns.
Heriot’s have just one change, Hayes van der Berg coming in for Elliot Ruthven.
And also in the capital, Brandon James, the overseas amateur, and Elliot Mason are brought into the RH Corstorphine side for their short trip to Inverleith to play Stewart’s Melville.
The home side’s professional Shaylen Pillay, from South Africa, arrived this week and could feature.