FORMER Young Warriors midfielder Matthew Rusike made yet another substitute appearance for Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday as he continues to make steady progress back into the team since returning from a long injury lay-off.
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Amakhosi defeated National First Division side Black Leopards 1-0 to advance to the next round of the Nedbank Cup, thanks to Knowledge Musona’s extra-time goal at the packed Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Rusike recovered from a thigh injury last November, which had threatened his promising career, but has been finding difficulties to get back into the Chiefs team.
His first league appearance this season came at Amakhosi’s 1-4 win over AmaZulu on December 22 when he was given a two-minute run at the end of the match, replacing Knowledge Musona.
The 23-year-old former Monomotapa and Jomo Cosmos winger was given four minutes at the end of Chiefs’ 1-0 win over SuperSport United at the start of this month. He was also an 89th minute substitute for his team two weeks ago, replacing Bernard Parker in Chiefs’ easy 3-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic.
On Sunday, against Abbas Amidu’s Black Leopards, Rusike came in after 87 minutes of play in a match that spilled into extra-time after a goalless draw in regulation time. He had a good chance to score in the 97th minute when he forced a solid stop from the Leopards keeper, who punched away the winger’s drilled attempt at goal, before Musona fired a winner 12 minutes later.
The Warriors forward had come in as a 65th minute substitute, replacing Katlego Mphela while fellow Warriors man Willard Katsande played the full match for Chiefs. Kingstone Nkhatha and the fit-again Zhaimu Jambo did not feature for Chiefs in the match, while Amidu was a second half substitute.
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Second-half substitute Terrance Mandaza was also on the scoring sheet, netting the winner for Maritzburg United, who also needed extra time to beat 10-men Black Aces on Saturday. Method Mwanjale and Tendai Ndoro played the entire match for Aces.
Tapuwa Kapini and Carlington Nyadombo also enjoyed a winning start to the Nedbank Cup, as they helped AmaZulu to progress through to the second round with a 2-0 win over United FC. The two Warriors players played the full match.
Denver Mukamba was the only one of five Zimbabweans on the field for Bidvest Wits University, who also progressed through following a 2-0 win over lower league side AmaBEE. Tinashe Nengomasha, Onismor Bhasera, Thomas Sweswe and Benjani Mwaruwari did not feature.
Esrom Nyandoro was also given a run over the weekend for Sundowns, entering the field on 80th minute as the Brazilians edged Ajax Cape Town 1-0. Khama Billiat was substituted two minutes into optional time while Cuthbert Malajila is injured.
Ovidy Karuru played an entire league match for OH Leuven in Belgium on Sunday, although the team fell 2-5 at home to Club Brugge.
