Former Warriors captain Knowledge Musona might have called time on his international career with Zimbabwe five months ago but he is not showing any signs of slowing down in his professional football career.
The 32-year-old Zimbabwean football star showed why many believe he still belongs at the top level after opening his scoring account in the Saudi Pro League this season by powering a stunning hat trick.
Musona’s treble inspired his Saudi Arabia team, Al Tai, to a 3-0 win over Al Khaleej on Thursday.
The former Zimbabwe international, who wore the captain’s armband during the match started the match as a right winger in a great sign of the confidence his club has in his abilities despite his age.
Musona certainly lived up to his billing as he broke the deadlock with a well-taken penalty in the 18th minute.
🎥 هدف الطائي الأول
⚽️ موسونا
#️⃣ #الطائي_الخليج pic.twitter.com/ZmuTBX3Dp3— دوري روشن السعودي (@SPL) October 6, 2022
He doubled his tally eight minutes into the second half after showing his predatory instinct by finishing off from a rebound after the Al Khaleej goalkeeper parried a goal-bound shot into his path before he hit the back of the net with aplomb.
🎥 هدف الطائي الثاني
⚽️ موسونا
#️⃣ #الطائي_الخليج pic.twitter.com/LktwOQ4u4Z— دوري روشن السعودي (@SPL) October 6, 2022
Musona completed his hattrick on the hour mark after starting and finishing off a brilliant move on the right a clinical fight-footed shot from inside the box which gave the goalkeeper no chance.
🎥 هدف الطائي الثالث
⚽️ موسونا
#️⃣ #الطائي_الخليج pic.twitter.com/TjrieWNnmg— دوري روشن السعودي (@SPL) October 6, 2022
Musona is flourishing in his second season at the club after signing from Belgium side Anderlecht, where he struggled to get any regular game time.
He has reinvented himself in the Saudi Pro League with Al Tai, who have been enjoying an impressive season after battling relegation for the better part of last season only to conjure some great wins at the tail end of the season to help them to safety.
Thursday’s win lifted the club to fourth position on the log with 12 points from just matches, six behind log leaders Al-Shabab.
Musona is expected to be one of the key players expected to play a big part in the team’s bid to win some silverware this season.
Musona was capped 51 times by his country since making his bow in a friendly match against South Africa in March 2010.
South African club Kaizer Chiefs scouted him from the Aces Youth Academy in 2009. He went on to make 49 appearances for them before signing for Hoffenheim in Germany.
Nicknamed the ‘Smiling Assassin’, Musona spent a season on loan at Augsburg before joining Oostende in Belgium where he spent three years between 2015 and 2018.
He joined Anderlecht from 2018 to 2021 but his appearances were limited as he was twice sent on loan to Lokeren and Eupen before joining Al Tai last year.