NEW Maritzburg United signing — former Hwange and Warriors striker — Evans Rusike believes he is going to make the team’s fans happy.
Rusike, always a rising star and given an opportunity to shine for the Warriors by coach Kalisto Pasuwa in the 2-0 win over Comoros where he scored the opener, has signed a two-year contract with Maritzburg United with the option of another year after successful trials.
He is a direct replacement for Terrence Mandaza whose contract was not renewed and is understood to be headed back to Botswana.
“I am here to do a job. I am going to make them [fans] happy,” he told Maritzburg’s official website page after sealing his deal.
Rusike joins another homeboy, Khumbulani Banda, who was signed from Highlanders last season.
“Banda and I know each other well and we have played against each other. It’s great that we are now team mates,” Rusike told the club’s official website.
Rusike’s new coach Mandla Ncikazi, who replaced Steve Komphela who left for Kaizer Chiefs, believes the striker is a rare gem and will take the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) by storm.
“Rusike has done very well so far at the team in his trials,” Ncikazi said.
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“He will take the PSL by storm. He is a very good striker and I am looking forward to working with him,” Ncikazi told Sport24.
His agent Edzai Kasinauyo was also in South Africa to witness the signing of the contract after a transfer figure was reached with his club Hwange.
In Tshwane, Mamelodi Sundowns rounded up their pre-season preparations in Namibia winning the Dr Hage Geingob Cup on Saturday after beating African Stars 1-0.
And for Zimbabwean international Khama Billiat, this is a sign of the good times.
“We have played close to 10 serious games in the pre-season and we have only lost one. That shows that we have done very well. We will continue playing like we have been playing in the pre-season and that will help us as the season goes on. We have done very well in the pre-season,” Billiat told the media in Namibia.
In Botswana, Mochudi Centre Chiefs have taken aboard Patrick Kaunda, who found the going tough in South Africa last season and was offloaded, while former Chicken Inn and How Mine defender Charles Mutero is also seeking a place in the growing beMobile League.
In Europe, Czech Republic giants Sparta Prague started the new season with a 0-0 draw against Jihlava.
Zimbabwean international Costa Nhamoinesu did not play in the match as he was red-carded in the last match of last season. In the North America Soccer League (NASL), Lucky Mkosana played 61 minutes in New York Cosmos’ 1-1 draw against Indy Eleven at the Michael A Carroll Stadium on Saturday night.
In the Belgium top-flight league, Warriors international Knowledge Musona’s KV Oostende started the season on a high note when they thumped Mechelen 3-0 to sit in second spot behind leaders Genk.
Musona lasted 72 minutes and had been shown a yellow card two minutes earlier before he was taken out for Nigerian international Joseph Akpala.
