AFCON GAVE ME RENEWED RELIEF

ACE BONNE IS READY TO FIRE AGAIN

- By Thomas Barlow

MACAULEY Bonne says pitting his wits against some of the world's top stars has given him a new lease of life as he prepares to revitalise his career following departure from Maldon & Tiptree.

The 30-year-old, who helped fire Leyton Orient into the EFL back in 2019 and was part of Southend United's promotion push last season, has just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morrocco where he represented Zimbabwe.

Bonne has been involved with the Warriors since 2014 but made his first major tournament appearance last month in a 2-1 defeat to Egypt, courtesy of a last-minute winner by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.

The former Charlton, QPR and Ipswich striker is currently looking for a new club after leaving the Step 4 Jammers last week and says playing on one of the world's biggest stages has given him renewed belief.

“For me, AFCON was kind of the icing on the cake,” Bonne told The NLP. “I've played and scored in England's top divisions, bar the Premier League, but the one thing missing was playing at a major tournament for my country.

“I think I dealt well with defenders who play in high divisions all over the world, I wouldn't say I looked out of place - the only thing I individually could've done more was nick a goal.”

Bonne's Zimbabwe competed in a group alongside Angola, a South Africa side whose players include Burnley's Lyle Foster and Ronwen Williams, voted the tournament's best goalkeeper in 2024, and an Egypt side boasting superstars such as Salah and Manchester City's Omar Marmoush.