Zimbabwe international Jordan Zemura will play in the Premier League next season after his club Bournemouth beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Tuesday to earn automatic promotion after two seasons in the second-tier Championship.
Kieffer Moore scored the game’s only goal in the 83rd minute as Scott Parker’s side joined -champions Fulham in the English top-flight next season.
Zemura was involved in the match’s decisive moment after his s mazy run drew a foul on the edge of the penalty area and Philip Billing rolled a free-kick cleverly into the path of Moore, who coolly fired the ball into the far corner.
The goal sparked wild celebrations from a capacity crowd. The home fans spilled onto the pitch at full-time after their side survived eight long minutes of injury time to seal their top-flight comeback.
An incredible night ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xJ9xW0yLxB
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 3, 2022
Bournemouth’s promotion means Zemura, who still has a year left on his contract at the club will become the fifth Zimbabwean to play in the Premier League, joining Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu, Benjani Mwaruwari and Marvelous Nakamba.
England-born Warriors defender Tendayi Darikwa earned a promotion to the Premier League with Burnley but did not make an appearance in the English topflight league during his stay at the club.
Bournemouth’s promotion caps off an incredible finish to what has been an amazing breakthrough season for Zemura.
Since the arrival of Parker as head coach in the summer, the 22-year-old Zimbabwean has become an established member of the first-team squad, only missing out either due to international duties or injuries.
Zemura’s attributes are not just limited to the defensive side of the game either. Determined to push forward as a creative spark along the left flank, he has chipped in with three goals, earning two Club Goal of the Month awards in the process.