ENGLAND-BASED Warriors defender Tivonge Rushesha is targeting a successful career with the Zimbabwe national team after joining the squad for the first time last week ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria.
The Warriors played a goalless draw against Rwanda on Wednesday in the first match of the World Cup qualification campaign in Butare.
Rushesha, who plays for English League One side Reading, did not feature in the match against Rwanda as it was reported that he did not have his passport yet.
But the 21-year-old fullback could make his debut against Nigeria in Rwanda this afternoon if his issues have been solved in time for the match.
Zimbabwe are using Huye Stadium in Butare as their home ground since there is no Caf accredited stadium in the country.
“This is my first time in the Zimbabwe national team. It’s a country where my family is from. I was born in Zimbabwe and I would always visit every year of my life when I was younger, so it’s a very proud moment,” Rushesha told Zifa media after joining camp.
“It took a lot to get here and so I am very grateful to players and the staff for making me very comfortable on my first day and it’s an experience I am going to savour, I am going to cherish.
“I am going to do my very best to help the team and hopefully we will make it to the World Cup. I am grateful for the support and I pray that I can do the country justice and be successful,” he said.
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Rushesha and Andy Rinomhota, who plays for Cardiff City in the English Championship, are the first of the ‘British brigade’ to accept the call to represent their country of origin since the lifting of the Fifa suspension in July.
Warriors coach Baltemor Brito and his technical team had also called Leicester City’s Tawanda Maswanhise, young Brentford goalkeeper Marley Tavaziva, Isaac Mabaya who plays for Liverpool and Leon Chiwome who is in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ books, but they did not turn up for various reasons.
The number of players with Zimbabwean roots continues to increase across the English top flight football league with other names such as Thierry Alfred Farai Katsukunya (Aston Villa), Vernon Masara (Burnley)Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), Matthew Kudakwashe Takawira ( Luton Town), Michael Ndiweni (Newcastle United), Sean Tarima (West Ham), Joshua Nyakudya (Wolves) and Tawanda Chirewa (Wolves) coming to mind.
Rushesha, born in Zimbabwe before moving to the UK in 2003, represented the Wales Under-17, Under-19 and Under-20 national teams.
He then decided to switch allegiance after failing to break into the Welsh national team.
If he impresses the coaches, Rushesha could claim the right back position for Zimbabwe.
The versatile player can also play as a central midfielder as well as in defensive midfield.
Rushesha has made 13 appearances for Reading in all competitions this season and has been deployed in four different roles as a right back.central midfielder, defensive midfielder and right sided midfielder.
It remains to be seen whether Rushesha will help Zimbabwe qualify for a maiden World Cup appearance.
