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Eddie Chikamhi

Senior Sports Reporter

ENGLAND-BORN Zimbabwe international, Adam Chicksen, says he is always intrigued by the change of culture whenever he comes back home for national team duty.

The 29-year-old has played his entire football career in England and is on the books of Notts County in the National League.

The leftback is in line for his maiden cap in the AFCON campaign.

Chicksen received his first international call in 2018 when he took part in a four-team tournament hosted by Zambia.

“There was a lovely culture change from what I am used to. There was excitement, there was fun, there were songs in the bus,’’ he said.

“It was enjoyable and it’s much more relaxed going into the game.

“I feel like, in the UK, obviously, sometimes it’s very tense, you look to yourself when travelling to games but here it’s very much family culture.

“There is togetherness and it’s enjoyable.’’

Chicksen was born in Milton Keynes and has played for several clubs in the lower leagues — MK Dons, Leyton Orient, Brighton, Bradford City, Charlton and Bolton.

The defender, who is of English-Chinese decent, qualifies to play for the Warriors through his father.

However, he could not be involved in competitive games, including the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt, because he had no Zimbabwean passport.

“I am very excited because I missed the AFCON finals due to passport issues. This has since been sorted out and finally coming to play for the country, obviously, means a lot to me.

“I need to showcase because I am 29-years-old now and probably in the best physical condition that I can be.

“I am hoping to showcase in some of the games.”

Chicksen has to contend with competition, in the Warriors side, for the leftback position.

South Africa-based Divine Lunga has made the position his own and there is also competition from rising star Jordan Zemura of Bournemouth in the English Championship.

“I know Algeria, they are, obviously, one of the best teams in Africa but I will not look too much into that.

“We have a strong team and that’s why I had to come and, hopefully, I can complement the other players and help them carry on with what they have been doing,” he said.

Meanwhile, France-based forward, Tino Kadewere, continued to get plaudits for his memorable performance in last Sunday’s Ligue 1 derby between Lyon and St. Etienne.

After being named in the Team of the Week by football stats website, Sofascore, the lanky forward was also recognised by international football magazine Afrik’Sports as the African Sportsman of the Week.

His double earned Lyon a comeback victory.

“Every start of the week, the editors of Afrik’Sports highlight the African talent that will have been above the lot at the end of the past week.

“Through the ‘“Afrik’Sports Mag Sports of the Week” section, we offer you a focus on these athletes in all disciplines, who are the pride of our continent.

“In a clash of the match day 10 of the French Ligue 1 pitting Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Etienne, victory for a while seemed to be going to the Greens, until the 65th minute, and the beginning of the show by Tino Kadawere.

“The 24-year-old Zimbabwean striker is our Sportsman of the Week!” said the magazine in their editorial.