EVANS Rusike has expressed delight in scoring his first goal for the national football team when the wasteful Warriors overcame the battling Comoros 2-0 in an African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The Hwange forward displayed a brilliant show in his fourth game for the national team and scored a beautiful goal in the 10th minute that deflated the Comoros to eventually lose the contest 2-0.
The 24-year-old weaved his way past a couple of defenders with stunning athleticism before drilling a low shot to the far right of goalkeeper Said Halifa — his first goal for the national team.
It was a great piece of technique by the Hwange forward and he revealed his delight afterwards.
“I am really happy to score my first goal at home for the national team. I have played in four matches for the national team — all away — and this is my first home game and my first goal. It’s really special. The fans were fantastic and enjoyed every moment of it. Although we missed a couple of chances, we managed to win, which is the most important thing,” Rusike said.
“I am looking forward to scoring more goals for the Warriors. We stand a very good chance of qualifying for the Chan tournament, but we need to remain focused ahead of the second leg. It was not an easy match, so we shouldn’t think they will just surrender because they will be playing at home,” he added.
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Rusike plays as central striker for Hwange, but was used on the right as coach Kalisto Pasuwa preferred Thomas Chideu in the central role.
The Highlanders man, despite good positioning almost at all times, and good turning inside the box, failed to find the target once again in national team colours.
He was eventually taken out for Tino Kadewera in the 86th minute as the Warriors sought the elusive second goal.
Kadewera deserves a place in the starting line-up and with more games coming up against the Comoros and possibly either Lesotho or Botswana in the final Chan qualifier, the Under-23 Championships matches against South Africa and the Africa Games finals in Congo-Brazzaville, the Harare City man will certainly get his chance sooner rather than later.
FC Platinum’s Marshall Mudehwe, who came in as a second half substitute for Wisdom Mutasa on 67 minutes, sew up the match at the death, drilling a shot home in a crowded box as the Warriors got a comfortable lead ahead of the return leg.
Mudehwe added pace on the right wing with some deft touches that kept the Comoros defence on the backfoot, thereby providing Rusike with a direct attack on goal.
The FC Platinum man then sealed a fine performance with the second goal at the death.
But Dynamos defender Blessing Moyo, who also had a good game on the right flank, warned his teammates against complacency as they prepare for the second leg in the Comoros on the weekend of July 3-5.
“We played well, but didn’t make use of most of the chances we got. But if we get more time together, we can finish them off. Overall, I think we played well,” Moyo said.
The Warriors have qualified for the last three editions of the tournament since its inauguration in 2009 and reached the semi-finals in South Africa in 2014 under Ian Gorowa.
Meanwhile, Chicken Inn left-back Divine “MacGyver” Lunga failed to last the entire game on his debut after he was stretchered off the pitch on 61 minutes when he twisted his ankle with Pritchard Mpelele replacing him as a makeshift left-wing back.
The extent of his injury was still to be determined, however, as the results of the scan were still not out by yesterday afternoon.
