Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura thanks AFC Bournemouth ahead of Udinese move #AFCB

May 31, 2023
In April, Serie A side Udinese announced they had completed a deal to sign the left-back on a free transfer, once his contract at Cherries expired this summer. The parting of the ways was not particularly amicable, with the higher-ups at Cherries left in the dark about Zemura’s movements. That consequently saw the 23-year-old go from regular starter to out of the squad entirely, his last appearance coming in the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal in early March. The Zimbabwe international has taken to social media to share his thoughts, alongside a video reel of highlights from his time at the club. On Instagram, Zemura posted: “Season officially over, first of wanted to say thank you to my family and friends for their support throughout it all, in a season that I will never forget playing in the biggest league in the world! “Something that I will forever cherish and hold tight to me. Secondly, after all that has been said throughout the course of the last three months I wanted to make it known I am forever grateful to AFC Bournemouth for allowing me to showcase myself and trusting me! “Thank you to the staff all across the club they showed me love and care. To the fans thank you for singing my name to the roof tops, and for the love from day one. “Something so special and will never be forgotten, no matter what was said I came as 19-year-old boy and I’ve grown with every step, for that I am forever thankful! “Wish nothing but the best for the club and my teammates who have helped me since I first stepped into the dressing room. “Once a cherry always a cherry. “Excited for the future to continue developing and working harder and achieving everything I set out to achieve in this game, with God’s grace and protection I will! #33” Zemura, who joined the club from Charlton Athletic in 2019, leaves having scored three goals in 63 appearances for Cherries.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil on Jordan Zemura’s decision to leave AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

April 15, 2023
Despite having played a key role this season, Zemura was earlier this week informed he would no longer be allowed to train with the club’s first team, instead being sent to work with the development squad. That decision came as a result of Italian club Udinese informing Cherries they were in talks with the Zimbabwean over signing him a free transfer. Then on Wednesday, the Serie A outfit confirmed Zemura would join them in the summer, when his contract at Cherries expired. The Daily Echo understands Cherries’ final contract offer to the 23-year-old was made eight weeks ago after drawn out negotiations, with the proposed deal in excess of £30,000 per week, alongside additional bonuses and achievable salary rises. This offer, one of numerous the club made over the past 15 months, was not been acknowledged by either Zemura or his representatives. It is understood Cherries had not been officially informed that a deal had been struck with Udinese, finding out when it was announced on social media. Asked if he feels let down by Zemura for the way his departure has transpired, Cherries head coach O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “All of it is out now, so you all have a real clear picture of the situation. “I don’t feel any way about it. As a footballer you have decisions to make and you make them and you do what you think is best for yourself. “My responsibility is to do what I think is best for the team and the group and the club. “It is the same with any situation that I deal with really. No real feelings about it, just what is best for the group and how do we give ourselves the best chance of staying up at the end of the season.” Asked if Zemura’s situation had been a distraction to him and the squad, O’Neil insisted: “No. Nothing will distract me and the group from the task at hand, I can guarantee you that. “There will be no shift in focus. It will be 100 per cent, from the moment that I took over until the end of the season.” O’Neil added: “I think you guys know most of it now, if not all of it. I think it’s all out. “The club have always been really aligned in how we see it. “Jordan will move on and play for another club next season. As always, my focus is on the group and making sure that everybody is ready for the weekend. “We’ve made decision that it’s best at this moment for Jordan to train with the under-21s and that will remain until it doesn’t.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals not being involved in Jordan Zemura contract situation #AFCB

March 18, 2023
With Lloyd Kelly and Matias Vina returning to fitness, Zemura was a surprise omission from the squad to face Liverpool last weekend, having impressed in recent weeks. The Daily Echo understands the 23-year-old was left out due to his ongoing contraction situation. Zemura's current deal expires this summer, after the club triggered a one-year extension clause in his contract in March 2022. It is understood the club have offered Zemura a significant pay-rise from his current terms, but the London-born ace or his representatives are yet to respond or engage in discussions. Speaking after the win over Liverpool, O'Neil said the Zimbabwe international's absence was an "internal decision". Ahead of tomorrow's trip to Aston Villa, O'Neil was asked if Zemura had a future at Cherries. He said: "I think Jordan has had a good time here, of course. "My job at the moment, I don’t get involved at all in contract situations, just purely on team selection. "As we saw, Lloyd Kelly is back fit now and can play left-back. "We’ve got a Uruguay international back available, Matias Vina, who has trained well. "So we have three very capable left-backs at the moment. So some tough decisions for me, but also positives that we have more options." Asked if Zemura remains in his thoughts when picking his team, O'Neil added: "All of them are, always. "I’ll always make an honest and what I believe to be a sensible decision around who is best to play." Zemura, who arrived from Charlton Athletic in 2019 after a successful spell on trial, made his first-team debut in September 2020. His breakthrough campaign was last season, under Scott Parker, featuring in 33 Championship matches, helping the club clinch promotion. Cherries have long been trying to tie Zemura down to a longer-term contract, but no agreement has been reached, with other Premier League clubs credited with an interest.
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jordan Zemura on squad’s faith in Gary O’Neil #AFCB

March 10, 2023
Cherries academy graduate Zemura enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Vitality Stadium last term, featuring 33 times and making the left-back spot his own as he helped his side win promotion back to the Premier League. The Zimbabwean international has further cemented his position as first-choice left-back whilst making the step-up to the top-flight, featuring in 19 of Cherries’ 26 league games so far this season. After a heart-breaking defeat in the dying embers of their last game against league leaders Arsenal, Cherries currently prop up the division, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League. However, just six points separate Cherries from 15th placed Leicester City, meaning there are six teams threatened by relegation in the final 12 games of the campaign. Speaking in February, Zemura shared: “I think he's a great guy, a great manager, and I think obviously it's not easy. “Like he says to us, we've got to deal with the result. “And then we’ve just got to move on. Every time it's a bad result, if it's a good performance and a bad result, he doesn’t say dwell on it too much, that we deal with it afterwards. “So for him, I know things will start working out and I'm sure of it. “I think we're working hard on the training ground, following his philosophy and his ethics. “As players, we are very with him and he's very with us. “He backs us when it comes to the media. He's always there putting himself on the line, even if it's us that haven't played that well. “So, you know, as players, we've got to keep on working hard with him and repay him, eventually.” Aside from the uncertainty of Cherries’ Premier League status, there is speculation surrounding Zemura’s own future on the south coast. The defender is currently into the last three months of his contract at Cherries. Zemura’s housemate and fellow starlet Jaidon Anthony recently signed a new deal, putting further pressure on both Cherries and Zemura to finalise terms. Zemura told the Daily Echo: “Firstly, congratulations to Jaidon, buzzing for him. Hopefully something can get sorted.” Asked if he was focusing on his football, Zemura replied: “Yeah, definitely.   “For me, I think the infatuation I have for the club is obviously seen. “Every game I come out and give my all and it's something that, contracts, it's not an easy thing. “It takes time to work out. “So I just got to leave it to my agents and leave it to the club to resolve.”
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Jordan Zemura backing Bournemouth to ‘kick on’ after Newcastle draw #AFCB

February 15, 2023
JORDAN Zemura is backing Cherries to “kick on” after an improved performance against Newcastle. Left-back Zemura played the full 90 minutes as Cherries shared a point with Newcastle, Marcos Senesi’s opener cancelled out by Miguel Almiron just before the break. Whilst Cherries are still without a win in seven Premier League games, performances in recent weeks have improved. However, late goals conceded at home to Nottingham Forest and Brighton meant hardly any points were produced for the efforts Cherries put into the games. Discussing the Newcastle game, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “I feel like you can see that our performances have been improving. “Obviously, last week was quite tough to take, a 1-0 defeat to Brighton, especially at the last bits of the game. “(Against Newcastle) you could see that from the lads we were switched on from minute one and then just working for each other, giving it our all. “It’s annoying to concede the goal right before half time, but definitely something to build on. “But we need to start turning these performances into wins because at the end of the day, they’re what’s needed most.” The Zimbabwean international then went on to explain his confidence in the side improving further, pointing to returnees from injury and new signings bedding in. Dominic Solanke and Marcus Tavernier both made their return from injury, the attacking talents noticeable absences in recent weeks. “I think you can see it from that Nottingham Forest game at home. Our squad was quite bare, a few players were injured and now people are coming back in. “The likes of Junior (Hamed Traore) coming in, Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) coming back from injury, Dango coming in. “It makes a big difference. “Players like that can affect the game. “And I think you could just see the squad start to start to really kick on a little bit now.” “It’s only a matter of time. “I think you could see from all of the boys, the players from injury coming back in, it’s a very strong unit, a very good dressing room. “Fredo (Ryan Fredericks) coming in, hasn’t played the last couple of weeks, out with injuries, he just comes in, fits in nicely. “It's nice to have those players coming back in and affecting the game. “To the players starting, you have to be on your A game because people are there to come in and take your place. It’s a good environment. Solanke almost made a goal scoring return to the side, the striker’s flicked effort cleared off the line by England international Kieran Trippier. Zemura added: “It’s fine margins. They clear the ball off the line in the 95th minute, inches before it goes in. “We could be here celebrating three points against one of the best teams in the league.”
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura excited by new arrival Dango Ouattara #AFCB

February 8, 2023
The Burkina Faso international joined from French side Lorient last month and made an instant impact with an assist in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on his debut. Ouattara again played the full 90 minutes on Saturday, during the 1-0 loss at Brighton. Discussing his early impressions of the 20-year-old, Cherries full-back Zemura told the Daily Echo: “Him no English, me no French. I think Siriki (Dembele) was helping him out quite well and Noa (Boutin), the young lad. “But he’s a great lad. He’s only 20, he’s come over here and just been smashing it. “When he first came in, we could see the talent that he had and the qualities that he possessed. “There’s going to be a lot to be excited about for the fans, having him for the next couple of years. It was good to see him get an assist (against Forest).” Asked how much English Ouattara understands, Zemura added: “All he knows is ‘back post’ and then he says ‘back post’. “When we scored (against Forest), I don’t know what he said to me but he said something in French. ‘Bon’ something, I don’t know what he said to me, but he seemed happy!” Discussing the lift a new arrival such as Ouattara can bring to the squad, Zemura said: “Definitely. Even when he came in to training, you could just see, oh this is different. We’ve got David Brooks on his way back, Marcus Tavernier on his way back, Dom (Solanke) on his way back. “Those players, that gives you a big buzz because you know the qualities that they have and you just think to yourself, once we get everyone back in and we’re all competing in training, it’s going to be something to really look forward to. “It’s a good camp.” Former Cherries defender Mathieu Baudry has been back with the club in the past couple of weeks, the Frenchman helping Ouattara and fellow French speaker Hamed Traore settle in England. Baudry is contracted to Swindon Town, but is currently recovering from a serious knee injury. Asked if boss O’Neil has tried to communicate in French to Ouattara, Zemura said: “The gaffer speaks no French! It’s all English, but it’s all hand gestures.” Ouattara and Traore were among six January arrivals at Cherries with Matias Vina, Darren Randolph, Antoine Semenyo and Illia Zabarnyi also recruited. Cherries, still seeking a first win since O’Neil became permanent head coach in November, host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Saturday (5.30pm).
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura says I know what I bring to AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

January 26, 2023
JORDAN Zemura was pleased with how he recovered from a slow start to be named man-of-the-match in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. The Zimbabwe international struggled at times defensively early on against the pace of Serge Aurier and Brennan Johnson. But the 23-year-old improved as the contest wore on, having a big impact at the other end of the field. His cross for Kieffer Moore should have registered an assist, but the striker headed over the bar. Zemura then himself went close, having a shot blocked on the line by Joe Worrall. Reflecting on his afternoon’s display, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “I think that’s football. The first action, I think Serge Aurier nutmegged me and I was like oh gosh, here we go! “But that’s just football, you’ve got to dust yourself down. “I think I just said to myself before the game, just be counted for, stand up and be ready. “There’s going to be moments you get beaten or moments where you give away a pass, but I think the main thing for me was I know what I bring on the field, energy-wise and stuff like that. “So I thought, if I lose the ball or give the ball away, it doesn’t matter, it happens. “But what are my next actions? That’s what they were screaming on the side and I had Jack Stephens in the centre just telling me to keep on going, next action. “That just helped me keep going throughout the whole game. I’ve got a lot of energy, so I just wanted to exert that all.” Discussing the draw, in which Sam Surridge popped up to cancel out Jaidon Anthony’s opener, Zemura added: “Obviously it’s a bit tough to take because we worked really hard. “You could see the desire from the whole team and everyone was just at it. “The points were literally there for the taking and a team like Forest, they’ve got good players, talented young players, they just managed to get the goal around the 84th minute.”
Jaidon Anthony
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony and Jordan Zemura call for Cherries fan support #AFCB

January 9, 2023
STARLETS Jaidon Anthony and Jordan Zemura took to social media last night in a plea to fans. Cherries’ 4-2 defeat to Championship leaders Burnley in the FA Cup led to an array of boos and jeers from supporters at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. As fans voiced their displeasure at a fifth straight loss, Anthony was the only player to lap the stadium and applaud fans for their efforts. Posting on Twitter, Anthony started: “Trust me, I get your frustrations. “We as players are as frustrated with the way we are playing too, but we do know there’s a long, long way to go in the season and there’s enough talent in this group to turn our fortunes around. “But we can only do it together. We need you more when it’s not going well. “You have every right to voice your opinions but whilst the game’s still going and we still have a chance, why not give us all the help you can, and be loud and proud. “Long way to go and many highs to come, I promise!” Defender Zemura took a similar view, also calling for fans to cut out the boos directed solely towards captain Lloyd Kelly. He posted: “Times like this (are) never easy, when everything feels sticky and things are not falling how you want. “But that’s football, more or less, that’s life. All you can do is stand up, chest out and go again, and keep fighting. “More than enough within this team, and (we) will continue to fight and be counter for. “All in this together, from the team to the staff, to you, the fans. “However disappointed you are with the performance, booing individual players is not on, especially the captain of the team – for that, I cannot stand with! “As a collective that’s fair because it has not been good enough, and we know that! We will continue to work and push each other to be better. “However, we’re in this together and that’s all! “Plenty of games to put things right and enjoy the highs!”           
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura reveals his one big wish from the World Cup #AFCB

November 30, 2022
CHERRIES full-back Jordan Zemura revealed his one big wish from this year's World Cup - to see Lionel Messi finally get his hands on the trophy. Widely considered as the greatest player to have ever played the game, Messi is looking to fire Argentina to glory in Qatar. This will likely be the final chance for the 35-year-old to win the World Cup, having come so close in 2014, when Argentina lost to Germany in the final. PSG superstar Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, has scored a remarkable 93 goals in 167 appearances for his country. Two of those have come during this World Cup, against Saudi Arabia and Mexico. However, Messi could exit the tournament on Wednesday. Following a shock defeat to the Saudis, Argentina kept their hopes of progressing out of Group C alive by defeating Mexico. They need a result against Poland, to move through to the last 16. Asked who he would like to see win the Wold Cup, Zimbabwe international Zemura told the Daily Echo: "I want him to do it. "I’d love an African team to do it, obviously for Africa, so I’m team Senegal, even team Morocco and team Africa. "But I want him to do it, the little GOAT. I want Messi to win it. "Hopefully, it’s his fifth World Cup. I’d love him to win it." Discussing the hopes of the African nations, with Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana having also qualified, Zemura added: "They’re getting really close. Hopefully one day Zimbabwe, my team, my country, my nation can hopefully join the elite forces up top. "2026, you might be reporting on me going to the World Cup, who knows!?"
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura on AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League form #AFCB

November 3, 2022
JORDAN Zemura is unfazed by Cherries’ winless streak – believing that his side have to “take the good with the bad”. Zimbabwean international Zemura made his eighth Premier League start in Cherries’ 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes of a capitulation that saw the Dorset side surrender a 2-0 lead. Spurs’ comeback consigned Cherries to a third defeat in a row, following losses to Southampton and West Ham. Saturday’s trip to Leeds (kick-off 3pm) marks interim boss Gary O’Neil’s 10th game in charge, with Cherries’ current run of losses in stark contrast to the flying start the former Portsmouth midfielder made to life in management, steering the side to six games unbeaten. Rather than dwell on the poor form, 22-year-old Zemura is confident the good times are just around the corner for Cherries. He told the Daily Echo: “We went six unbeaten in the Premier League and it was great experience, a beautiful thing. Now we've lost our last three games. “You can't think (about) that because I know it will switch it again and then we'll go three wins on the bounce, and everyone will be praising us. “You’ve got to take the good with the bad.” When asked if his side could take confidence from the first hour of action of the Spurs game, a period where Cherries scored twice and were on top of their more fancied opponents, Zemura responded: “Yeah, of course. “I think anyone watching that game would know that Bournemouth put in a real good shift. “From a team that lost 9-0 at Anfield, and then now to be competing against some of the teams, it's good - this is where we want to be. “So we're just constantly learning, improving constantly, trying our best.”If Zemura makes an appearance at Elland Road this weekend, it will mark his 50th appearance for Cherries. The left-back made his debut in red and black near the start of the 2020-21 campaign, playing the full 90 minutes of a League Cup clash with Crystal Palace.  
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jordan Zemura speaks after 3-2 Premier League loss to Tottenham Hotspur #AFCB

October 30, 2022
STARLET Jordan Zemura labelled Cherries’ late collapse at home to Tottenham Hotspur as “heartbreaking”, before admitting he perhaps could have done better for Spurs’ equaliser. Goals in each half from Kieffer Moore had set Cherries on their way to a first win in three, only for the away side to claw one back around the hour mark via Ryan Sessegnon. At a corner, defender Ben Davies was not properly dealt with at the back post, the Welshman heading home an equaliser, before another corner spelt disaster for the hosts in injury time, Rodrigo Bentancur able to fire home after the initial set-piece was not cleared to give Tottenham a 3-2 win. Talking after the game, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “We’re gutted, because we worked so hard today to take a 2-0 lead against such a good side like Spurs, and then we lose 3-2. “It’s heartbreaking at the end of the day. “(Goals from) set-pieces are always the worst. Like, you work so hard to stop it from open play, you work so hard in the shape, and then you concede two set-piece goals. “It's like, ‘oh gosh, that's a no brainer.’ “We have to be stronger, we have to be strong as a team there and make sure we don't concede. “Today we suffered from that, and we end up losing the game. “We were here to win. And if you don’t win, you don't lose, as much as we made sure, we took that team all the way to 94 minutes, whenever they scored, it was one of those ones where we’re now left with zero points. “I felt like we were set up right from our manager and coaching staff. “We were ready to compete and then today was unfortunate. I guess that's how it is. That’s how cruel football can be.” Spurs’ final two goals highlighted a consistent deficiency of Cherries, an inability to properly deal with set pieces. Cherries have now conceded 15 times from set-pieces, more than any other Premier League side. Left-back Zemura revealed that Davies, who grabbed Spurs’ second, was actually his man. “Even today, myself, I’m gutted,” continued the Zimbabwean international/ “Ben Davies was my man and then he scored at the corner. I feel like I was so close to him but he still managed to score and it's one of those ones where I'm learning. “I know it's a goal conceded, but I'm learning from that moment. “I'm learning from being on the pitch how the first half was, you think everything's fine and then shortly after 60th minute, everything changes and then you have to switch your mindset. “I'm just grateful to be able to play today and then be able to help the team as much as I can. “We’re devastated, but we just brush ourselves down and go again.”
Scott Parker Fulham
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Scott Parker reveals Solanke and Zemura were ‘late drop-outs’ #AFCB #MCFC

August 14, 2022
SCOTT Parker revealed Dominic Solanke and Jordan Zemura were "late drop-outs" ahead of this afternoon's trip to Manchester City. The pair, a key duo since Parker's arrival, did not travel to the home of the champions, with Cherries going on to lose 4-0. Solanke, who had not missed a league game since Parker took charge last summer, was absent due to an ankle injury, while Zemura tested positive for COVID-19. Asked if the pair withdrew late on, boss Parker told the Daily Echo: "They were late drop-outs. They were drop-outs yesterday morning, so it was disappointing. "Dom has felt his ankle yesterday morning, so didn’t feel he could play today and obviously didn’t want to risk that. "And then JZ, felt ill yesterday so it was a bit of a disruption that late on when you’re trying to prepare as well. "But overall I was pleased with the way we went about it and I was pleased with the players and the group that came on." Asked how much of a disruption it was to lose the pair, Parker added: "It affects it, of course it does. "When you have late decisions to make and you’ve done a lot of work in the week to prep for that, but that wasn’t the reason (we lost). "But of course it wasn’t ideal."