Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE story of Rutendo Makore is that of a Mighty Warrior who has never lost her magical scoring boots.
Makore, introduced to the women’s senior national football team in 2010 has over the last 16 years developed into the side’s gunslinger, regularly providing the goals that powered Zimbabwe.
And at a time when many thought she would naturally be slowing down and considering retirement, the Black Rhinos star’s blistering strikes continue to burn proving that she still has her mojo. At the ongoing COSAFA Cup, she scored two of the three important goals that helped Zimbawe to wins over Eswatini and Botswana. Interestingly in both fixtures, she came in from the bench to change the complexion of the game to hand Zimbabwe 2-0 and 1-0 victories.
In fact, “Madzimai” as she is affectionately known, has proved without doubt that she is still the go to person when the team is in difficult times.
“It feels good to still be able to score goals and help my team win at this stage,” she said. “I have been here for long and when as a player you can still play such a role for your team and the nation then you ought to give praise to God for guiding you,’’ Makore said.
That Makore scored important goals for Zimbabwe did not come as a surprise for any of the 11 nations at the ongo-ing COSAFA Women’s Championship in Polokwane, South Africa.
After all, the Mighty Warrior’s name is familiar at the COSAFA stage after she was crowned the Tournament’s Golden Boot Winner back in 2017. Even prior to that accolade, her name would be mentioned on goal poachers’ lists across the region.
However, after 2017, she, along the way, was to take a sabbatical after picking a career threatening injury.
But a resilient Makore scripted a magnificent story of a genius who can weather the storms and emerge from difficult situations. Just four years ago, the veteran forward had ruled herself out of the game after a nasty knee injury.
Apart from the magnitude of the injury, the decorated football star also found it difficult to afford the corrective surgery which the doctors had recommended.
Still, the surgery would guarantee 50-percent percent chances of her return to the pitch. And all that, coupled with lost confidence, Makore felt that her football journey had just come to an end. But Makore who closely followed the careers of her teammates — Felistas Muzongondi, Rudo Neshamba and others — from the sidelnes, felt motivated to fight for her come back.
