Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
As he contemplated returning to his home country following a failed move to South Africa’s DStv Premiership side Chippa United, it was by coincidence that Congolese international Eli Ilunga found himself at Black Rhinos.
With the local league now in its twilight, the 24-year-old striker, who finds himself in the golden boot race, does not regret joining the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League outfit.
Instead, he feels indebted to the army side. “Black Rhinos gave me a home when the chips were down.
“I am indebted to the opportunity and I want to repay them by scoring goals that will make a difference,” said Ilunga.
Trailing leading goal scorer William Manondo by six goals, Ilunga is confident he can eclipse the CAPS United forward.
“Anything is possible, I have my targets, and the golden boot is one of them.
“I believe if I continue scoring goals, then I stand a good chance to win it,” he said.
Having scored the goal that secured Black Rhinos a quarter-final berth of the country’s premier club competition, Chibuku Super Cup, against Caps United, the former FC Platinum forward has set his sights on the ultimate prize.
“My wish is to help Black Rhinos win the Chibuku Super Cup as a way of thanking them for saving my career,” he said.
Ilunga found himself at crossroads at the beginning of the year when his two-year contract with FC Platinum came to an end.
The Zvishavane-based side did not renew his contract.
During his stint at FC Platinum, Ilunga only played three matches.
A possible move to Chippa United at the start of the season failed to materialise at the eleventh hour.
“At the start of the year, I was supposed to sign for Chippa United but the deal failed to go through due to paperwork.
“I applied for a South African visa from here (Zimbabwe) but I was told I needed to do it in my home country.
“Unfortunately, time was no longer on my side by then,” said the Black Rhinos striker.
He subsequently went for trials at ZPC Kariba, where the proposed move fell through.
It left him dejected.
“After my failed move to South Africa, I trained with ZPC Kariba as part of my trials and scored six goals in two matches.
“However, I failed to sign with them,” he said.
He, however, never lost hope.
Fortuitously, he was spotted by the Black Rhinos technical team during one of his early morning drills at the National Sports Stadium and was invited for trials.
It took not more than one practice game with Black Rhinos to convince the army side to sign him on a year-long deal.
And it is a move that neither part regrets.
“I was going through the most difficult time of my career, and Black Rhinos gave me a home.
“I am grateful to them and the only way to repay them for what they did to my career is to score goals,” said Ilunga.
Having been influential in Black Rhinos six-game undefeated run, which finally came to an end last week, Ilunga hopes to continue with his goal-scoring form as they take on title-chasing Dynamos at Vengere Stadium this afternoon.
“It is a difficult game: They (Dynamos) are chasing their own target and I am chasing my own,” said Ilunga.
Online Reporter