Kadewere on what went wrong in Spain
WARRIORS’ striker Tino Kadewere has finally lifted the lid on his unsuccessful stint at Real Mallorca in the Spanish La Liga last year. The 28-year-old striker was on a season long spell at Mallorca after falling out of favour at Olympic Lyon.
The Zimbabwean appears to have ended his unhappy stay at Lyon after his switch to another Ligue 1 side Nantes a fortnight ago, on a six month loan deal, which includes an option to buy.
According to reports in France, Nantes , who are currently struggling in the league, made a commitment to sign Kadewere on a long term deal in the summer transfer window if they manage to survive relegation.
Nantes sits in 13th place with 18 points from 18 matches, four above the relegation zone and have lost their last four matches in the competition including a 2 - 1 defeat against Clermont Foot on Kadewere’s league debut last Sunday.
However, Kadewere feels an injury soon after his arrival in La Liga affected his season and a possibility for a permanent stay in Spain.
“When I arrived (at Mallorca), it was good. I arrived two weeks before the first match, against Real Madrid. I got injured the day before the match in training. I didn't play for four months,”Kadewere told reporters last week when he was presented to the media for the first time since his move to Nantes.
“When I came back, the team was good and was in 9th place. It was complicated for the coach to change anything. I had good matches, I learned a lot of things technically. I am now very strong in this aspect. I think I have progressed well technically, mentally too."
During his loan spell with Mallorca, Kadewere managed just 19 appearances with a return of just two goals.
But during this time he became the first Zimbabwean footballer to play in the Spain top flight league.
Kadewere also reflected on his time in Sweden where he played for Djurgårdens, who signed him from local side Harare City.
"It was really good! I discovered a beautiful country, what more in a city like Stockholm. "Everyone spoke English so it was easy. I liked this very good championship. With Bénie (Traore), We talked a little about Sweden but he lived in a city where it was very, very cold. I didn't play against him," he said.
Bénie Traore is Kadewere’s new teammate at Nantes, who also played in Sweden.
The Zimbabwean revealed his happiness to remain in France for the sake of his young children.
“It was important for me to remain in France and my family. I have two children who speak French and I didn't want to change during the year to disrupt them," he said.
Olympique Lyon paid about £12 million to Le Havre for Kadewere’s signature exactly four years ago, but after struggling in the last three seasons the player’s market value has slumped to around £2.5 million according to football site Transfer Markt
During his first season with Lyon, Kadewere managed 10 goals and three assists to follow up on his prolific run with Le Havre, where he scored an incredible 20 goals in 24 games.
Fixtures
Football
Today
Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco v DR Congo (16:00), Zambia v Tanzania (19:00), South Africa v Namibia (22:00)
Premier League - She eld United v West Ham (16:00), Bournemouth v Liverpool (18:30)
La Liga - Osasuna v Getafe (15:00), Real Madrid v Almería (17:15), Real Betis v Barcelona (19:30), Girona v Sevilla (22:00)
Italy Serie A - Frosinone v Cagliari (13:30), Empoli v Monza (16:00), Salernitana v Genoa (19:00), Lecce v Juventus (21:45)
English Championship - Leeds v Preston (14:00)
Tomorrow
Africa Cup of Nations - Equatorial Guinea v Cote d'Ivoire (19:00), Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria (19:00), Cape Verde v Egypt (22:00), Mozambique v Ghana (22:00)
Premier League - Brighton v Wolverhampton Wanderers (21:45)
La Liga - Granada v Atletico Madrid (22:00)
English Championship - Leicester City v Ipswich Town (22:00) Tuesday
Africa Cup of Nations - Guinea v Senegal (19:00), Gambia v Cameroon (19:00), Angola v Burkina Faso (22:00), Mauritania v Algeria (22:00)
Carabao Cup - Chelsea v Boro (22:00)
Wednesday
Africa Cup of Nations - South Africa v Tunisia (19:00), Namibia v Mali (19:00), Tanzania v DR Congo (22:00), Zambia v Morocco (22:00)
English Championship - Leeds v Norwich City (21:45)
Carabao Cup - Fulham v Liverpool (22:00)
Thursday
FA Cup - Bournemouth v Swansea (21:45)
Cricket
Today
5th T20I - New Zealand v Pakistan (2:00)
2nd ODI - Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women (9:15)
ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 - Sri Lanka under-19s v Zimbabwe under-19s (10:00), New Zealand under-19s v Nepal under19s (10:00)
SA20 2024 - Paarl Royals v MI Cape Town (15:30) Tomorrow
ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 - Bangladesh under-19s v Ireland under-19s (10:00), Australia under-19s v Namibia under-19s (10:00)
SA20 2024 - Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals (17:30) Tuesday
3rd ODI - Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women (9:15)
ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 - South Africa under-19s v England under-19s (10:00), New Zealand under-19s v Afghanistan under-19s (10:00)
SA20 2024 - MI Cape Town v Durban's Super Giants (17:30)
Wednesday
ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 - Sri Lanka under-19s v Namibia under-19s (10:00), West Indies under-19s v Scotland under19s (10:00), Nepal under-19s v Pakistan under-19s (10:00)
SA20 2024 - Joburg Super Kings v Paarl Royals (17:30)
1st Test – India v England (6:00) 2nd Test - Australia v West Indies (6:00)
Thursday
ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 - India under-19s v Ireland under-19s (10:00), Zimbabwe under-19s v Australia under-19s (10:00)
SA20 2024 - Pretoria Capitals v Sunrisers Eastern Cape (17:30)