Antipas departure hits Karuru

Raymond Jaravaza . .
ZIMBABWE international Ovidy Karuru has spoken out for the first time how he felt when the man who helped him resuscitate his career left AmaZulu FC.

After being dumped by Absa Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs in early 2016 for failing to command a starting jersey, Karuru found himself in the football wilderness.

In mid-2016, a silver lining to Karuruaï¿½ï¿½s fading career appeared when he was offered a six-month contract by Zimbabwean compatriot Joey Antipas, the then AmaZulu FC head coach in the South African second tier league aï¿½ï¿½ the National First Division (NFD).

Karuru grabbed the opportunity with both hands and never looked back.

His hard work at AmaZulu FC did not go unnoticed when Zimbabwe senior coach for the 2017 Cosafa Cup Sunday Chidzambwa called him for national duty.

Back on the South African domestic league scene, AmaZulu FC acquired an Absa Premiership franchise from Thanda Royal Zulu and Antipas was relieved of his duties.

aï¿½?It was a very difficult time for Ovidy when his former coach was fired at AmaZulu. This is the man who helped the boy revive his career and itaï¿½ï¿½s understandable that he was pained, a lot, but that is football,aï¿½? Karuruaï¿½ï¿½s agent Shane Costa told South African media.

AmaZulu FC exercised an option to extend Karuruaï¿½ï¿½s six months deal with an additional 12 months, keeping the player at the club until the 2017/ 18 season.

aï¿½?Yes, we agreed that Ovidy will play out the final year of the contract and see what happens after. And for now heaï¿½ï¿½s happy and focused on helping the team do well,aï¿½? said Costa.