Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube
COULD the US become the foundation of the Mighty Warriors going forward?
A fortnight ago Ru Mucherera, a US born and bred Zimbabwean was in the country to get the passport of her parents’ country of birth. She expressed a desire to play for Zimbabwe and paid the Zifa’s women soccer desk at 53 Livingstone Way a courtesy call.
She even visited local elite women’s soccer side Maningi Academy and got to interact with the girls and technical staff.
Last week Mucherera made her debut for Mccabi Hadera in the Israel Women’s Premier League and scored in the 3-3 loss. On Thursday she scored her second goal. Another player based in the US Rudo Marufu has emerged and looks very much one for the future. She is a mature 24-year-old footballer. She has had a blistering start to the season playing as a centre-back.
Now at Florida Memorial University, her blistering start to the 2024/25 season has seen her score one goal in five matches and four assists from her centre-back position.
Marufu joined the Florida Memorial University this year from Louisiana University where she was impressive there too.
By any woman standards she is an imposing centre-back. The Zimbabwean was at Louisina from 2022 to this year and played under renowned coach Courtney Murdoch.
She managed to have her team go as far as the second round of the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) regional tournament.
Marufu graduated from Westridge High School in 2021 and was groomed by head coach Malvin Moyo.
So outstanding was she that in 2015 she was part of the boys’ team at her high school. Growing up in Harare Marufu was part of KidsCan Cancer Organisation and the Celebration Church Infant Care Living Springs Elderly Care Home.
In Zimbabwe she was also capped in the private schools national hockey team. US-based coach who has a keen interest in women’s football and has assisted a number get scholarships in that country.
Tawanda Kaseke described Marufu as a very good defender who deserves consideration for the Mighty Warriors.
“Women’s soccer here has caught up and lived up to expectations. US women’s soccer rates among the most competitive in the world, there is good collegiate competition. Marufu could fit in any team with her talent. She is also a natural athlete who has even played collegiate basketball here,” he said.
Among some of her achievements are:
Four-time basketball national team select (2016-2019)
2019 Westbridge High School Athlete of the Year
First girl on the men’s soccer team (2015, 2019)
2019 deputy house captain
Marufu chose FMU because of her relationship with the coach and to experience the Miami life. Her favourite part about FMU is the diversity of people. Marufu’s interests include:
Favourite sports team(s): FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Inter Miami, AC Milan
Favourite athlete(s): Lionel Messi, Thiago Alcántara, Edén Hazard, Bojan Krkic, Ronaldinho
Favourite food(s): Sushi
Favourite movie(s): Colombiana
Favourite TV/Streaming show(s): Bluey
Favourite vacation spot(s): Anywhere with a beach
Most influential person/people in her life: Her mum, her old coach Malvin and Lionel Messi
Favourite musical artist(s)/group(s): Brent Faiyaz, J Cole, Tame Impala
Favourite book(s): The Alchemist
Hidden talent: Chicken Sounds
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo