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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE international Jordan Zemura is living a dream after putting on a polished performance in his English Premier League football debut against Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

The AFC Bournemouth defender’s all-round show helped the Englishe Premier League returnees to a convincing 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.

Another Zimbabwean, Marvelous Nakamba, however, did not make the match-day squad for his club Aston Villa denying the Warriors pair a chance to pit against each other.

But it was Zemura, who grabbed all the headlines with a performance for the archives in his first ever English Premier League appearance.

The 22-year-old, together with Ben Pearson, Kieffer Moore and Marcus Tavernier were the debutants named in the starting line-up by coach Scott Parker.

He became the sixth Cherries academy graduate to represent the club in the top tier.

Baily Cargill, Matt Worthington, Jack Simpson, Sam Surridge and goalkeeper Mark Travers are the other players who have made it from the team’s development system.

Jefferson Lerma and Moore scored for the Cherries.

Zemura was thrust in the left side of Parker’s 4-2-3-1 and saw off the entire match and made a good case for himself.

The Zimbabwean was deservedly given a 7/10 rating by Dorset.live.

“There was none of the wing-back imbalance we saw during much of pre-season,” noted Doset.live.

“Adam Smith and Jordan Zemura were crucial in shuttling the Cherries down the field, and the latter was particularly involved defensively. Teed up Dominic Solanke for a shot…”

Zemura said he feels honoured to have been named in the starting line-up but feels challenged to continue working hard.

“It’s quite a challenge for me. I feel very excited to have played a part in our opening match and also challenged to put in more work,” said Zemura.

“It’s a dream for me to be playing for a team in the English Premier League.

“I can’t describe how I felt. It was nice finally getting to play in the English Premier League. I am thankful to everyone who has been part of my journey.

“It comes down to putting in the work. I am learning everyday.

“I need to polish up areas I feel I am not doing well.

“This is a marathon and I am sure things will get harder as we go but that’s what football is about.

“We need to work extra hard, improve everyday and try to be consistently competitive.

“There is no better feeling than starting a season with a win. It’s a bar we have set ourselves and we need to keep on getting the points where we can.”

Zemura’s contract with AFC Bournemouth is set to run out in one year’s time.

And the Zimbabwean is negotiating with the club as confirmed by Parker to The Echo.

“Yeah, I hope so. I hope that will be the case.

“I hope there’s a resolution to both of them,” Parker told The Echo.

“I don’t know at this present moment in time exactly where that is sitting.

“But like all the players, Dom, Travers, we’re a football club that want to try and tie down these players, these young players that are going to be the future of the club and hopefully that will be the case with those two as well.”