Former Warriors midfielder Alois Bunjira has waded into the debate over Liverpool starlet Trey Nyoni’s international future, revealing that the player’s family has been left hurt by fake social media reports claiming the teenager had turned his back on Zimbabwe.
In a lengthy social media post on Tuesday, 4 August, Bunjira said he met Nyoni’s maternal grandmother at St Clare Roman Catholic Church and had a frank discussion about the 19-year-old’s heritage and international allegiance.
According to Bunjira, the family was “much disappointed by the fake articles attributed to Trey saying he was not Zimbabwean.”
“The grandmother stressed that Trey never said those things and he was very much hurt reading that and some insults hurled towards him,” Bunjira wrote.
Bunjira said he established that Nyoni is “very much proud to be Zimbabwean, with a full Zimbabwean heritage, both sets of maternal and paternal grandparents are full Zimbabweans.”
“Both parents are full Zimbabweans, with one coming from Mbare and the other coming from Bulawayo. There is no way he cannot be Zimbabwean, although he holds British Citizenship,” he added.
Born in the UK in 2007 to Zimbabwean parents, Nyoni is currently an England youth international. He made his mark with the England U18s and U19s but remains eligible to switch allegiance to Zimbabwe through his parents.
Bunjira said the family wants the youngster to be given space as he navigates the most crucial phase of his club career.
“Trey is currently an England youth international but deserves space to clear his head as he enters the most crucial time of his career with Liverpool, before he can commit to full international football with either England or Zimbabwe,” Bunjira wrote.
“At the end of the day, it is his choice. If he does choose to represent England, we as Zimbabweans should respect that choice and continue supporting mwana wevhu as a footballer. If he chooses Zimbabwe, we shall rejoice. Those who write fake negative articles about Trey Nyoni should stop. It is so hurtful to the family.”
Bunjira said he used the meeting to explain the advantages of choosing Zimbabwe, saying he believes “[the] advantages of playing for Zimbabwe far outweigh those of playing for England, emotions included.” He also jokingly told the grandmother he wishes Nyoni would one day play for Manchester United.
He added: “I have a deep feeling that Trey will choose to play for Zimbabwe soon. It is just natural and a shoo-in. He will be a Hero here in Zimbabwe. I am sure kana Purazi tinomupa.”
Bunjira described the grandmother as “such a nice humble human being, just like her husband who I sometimes train with at the gym.”
Nyoni’s club future is also in the spotlight. After making his senior debut under Jurgen Klopp and featuring five times under Arne Slot last season – with Slot admitting he felt “really sorry” for only giving him a late cameo in the FA Cup win over Barnsley – he is now pushing for a breakthrough under new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Iraola, who took charge at Anfield in July after leaving Bournemouth, has been impressed during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the USA.
“Trey is very good on the ball, very calm, he reads the situations well,” Iraola said after Nyoni started in the 1-0 win over Wrexham in New York.
“We’re reinforcing him in the work without the ball, in the press, and he is absolutely doing very well.”
Iraola added: “At the end, he is a midfielder who, I always say, you have to ask for the ball sometimes with pressure – and he doesn’t feel this pressure. Even when he has one opponent quite close, he asks for that ball and he’s confident, he doesn’t rush. For me, that is very valuable.”
Nyoni himself said of his new boss: “He’s very friendly, he’s very welcoming to everyone and I think he communicates quite well.”
Nyoni’s name has been central to what is now referred to in Zimbabwean football circles as the “British Brigade” – a growing pool of UK-born players of Zimbabwean parentage who could transform the Warriors.
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