MIDFIELDER Ovidy Karuru reckons it’s never too late to follow one’s dreams as he aims to use the COSAFA Cup to relaunch his career which had taken a battering in recent years.

The 28-year old Zimbabwe international believes he still has a lot to offer and is expected to be one of the major highlights at the tournament following a relatively good season with South Africa First National Division side AmaZulu.

Karuru, once a vital cog of the current crop of the senior national team, has been overlooked in recent years after a promising career that had taken him as far afield as Europe and South Africa had suddenly stalled.

But the year 2017 should turnout a good one for him first having been given a lease of life by interim Warriors coach Norman Mapeza and playing a cameo in Zimbabwe’s AFCON qualifier against Liberia recently. 

And now Sunday Chidzambwa has given him another opportunity. The AmaZulu midfielder believes the regional tournament will be a perfect stage for him to relaunch himself with rumours already doing rounds that there are some European clubs monitoring his progress.  

Chidzambwa has also called up rookies such as Highlanders prodigy Prince Dube, Yadah Stars teenage sensation Leeroy Mavunga and Bantu Rovers’ youthful captain Bukhosi Sibanda who is currently the league’s leading scorer.

“It’s a good competition especially for the youngsters because this team is full of guys who are coming up. I think they should take it seriously. You never know what it will happen if they perform well. Maybe they will get contracts outside the country.

“So what I encourage them is to focus on the tournament and give it their best.

“For me, as someone who is coming back to his best I also have to take the competition seriously. You never know who is watching, so I have to take every game seriously,” said Karuru.

The Warriors had their first training session on Wednesday at the National Sports Stadium ahead of the tournament to be held in South Africa’s North West Province from this Sunday up top July 9.

 Zimbabwe will get the ball rolling against Mozambique on Monday in Group B that also includes Seychelles and Madagascar. Two-time winning coach of the COSAFA Cup, Sunday Chidzambwa, has been named interim gaffer for this tournament.

“The coach has emphasised that he has never lost a game when they were playing COSAFA. He has encouraged us to win the tournament for him because he said he never lost. So it’s a direct challenge to the players.

“We would want to go all the way to the final but I think it’s not going to be easy. We have to push especially the youngsters because most of them it’s their first time playing such a tournament,” said Karuru.

Zimbabwe squad

Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Polokwane City), Takabva Mawaya (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Talbert Mutombeni (Chapungu)

Defenders: Eric Chipeta (Ajax Cape Town), Ocean Mushure (Dynamos), Honest Moyo (Highlanders), Bruce Homora (Black Rhinos), Jimmy Tigere (Harare City), Jameson Mukombwe (Black Rhinos), Nyasha Mpofu (Shabanie)

Midfielders: Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Gerald Takwara (FC Platinum) Ovidy Karuru (AmaZulu), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars), Talent Chawapiwa (FC Platinum), Michelle Katsvairo (Kaizer Chiefs), Innocent Mucheneka (Chicken Inn), Collins Duwa (Shabanie)

Forwards: Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Prince Dube (Highlanders), Bukhosi Sibanda (Bantu Rovers), Blessing Majarira (Herentals), Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba).