‘My Greatest Game’

the colours of his country, and revealed that he was excited to be part of a promising group of players who could transform themselves into Dream Team II.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who plays for French side US Boulogne, was the star of the show on Sunday, taking the Warriors’ fans down memory lane to the golden era when Peter Ndlovu led from the front, with a performance rich in both quality and substance.

The lanky midfielder was the dominant figure in a Warriors’ attacking quartet whose oldest player, Nyasha Mushekwi, is still only 23.
Knowledge Musona, the Kaizer Chiefs’ hotshot who scored twice in the match, is turning 21 in two weeks time while Khama Billiat – who turned on a magical home debut in the Warriors’ colours – will only turn 21 on August 19 this year.

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Not since Reinhard Fabisch’s original Dream Team revolution, which thrust the likes of Peter and Adam Ndlovu, Vitalis Takawira and Agent Sawu into the frontline, as the spearheads of the attack, has a Warriors’ coach invested so much trust in young forwards the way Norman Mapeza did on Sunday. And he was rewarded with a performance full of youthful freshness, especially on the flanks, and all the time, the lanky frame of Karuru stood out.

He terrorised the Malians all afternoon, with his deceptive moves and trickery that turned the right channel into a horror zone for the West Africans, and was at the heart of the Warriors’ 2-1 win in their 2012 Nations Cup campaign.

Karuru was full value for his man-of-the-match award, touching the heavens by taking his vintage individual performances in the Warriors’ colours to a level last seen when the Flying Elephant was the team leader, as he inspired the national team to a big win.

Playing against players he knows from their French adventure, Karuru was fearless, always running at the defence and always eliminating his markers, and such was his refreshing impact that the Warriors found an oasis from where they sucked vital energy supplies that helped them cross the line.

He was heavily involved in the first goal, put away with aplomb by Musona, after a run across the midfield.
And, after the Malians had equalised and with time running out, Karuru made one last attack into the fortified enemy zone, carrying a pass from substitute Willard Katsande into the penalty area at pace, and being fouled for the decisive moment of this tie.

Musona converted to give Zimbabwe the win.
It’s usually not easy for someone who would have scored twice, including having the composure to hold his nerve to convert such a pressure penalty, but that Musona was not given the man-of-the-match award, spoke volumes about Karuru’s impact that afternoon.

Yesterday Karuru said he believed it was his best show for his fatherland.
“I think this is my best performance for the national team,” he told The Herald from his hometown in Masvingo. “I had a good tournament and played some good matches for the national team at the (2009) Chan

finals but I think on Sunday it was my best performance for the Warriors. It just feels good when things work out and I was just happy to play my part for the team and that I ended up doing very well felt really good.”
The midfielder was spotted during that Chan tournament and airlifted to France, where he is now based, but chances are that his magical performance on Sunday could open doors for him elsewhere.
Karuru said there was intense pressure on the Warriors going into the match and it became tense when Mali equalised and silenced the big crowd.

“This was a tricky game because it was one where we just needed to win because nothing else would have been good enough for us,” said Karuru.
“So there was a lot of pressure on our shoulders because we knew that any other result just would not do for the team and all the time we were trying to win the game while also trying to avoid making mistakes.

“It wasn’t an easy job and it was made even worse when Mali equalised and we had to start it all over again. We needed to be patient but time was running out and you could feel that the pressure had also built in the crowd.

“Luckily we finally managed to get the goal that we wanted and everyone was relieved at the end of the day.”
Karuru said he never lost hope, even as the game ticked into its final phase, because he believed in the team.

“We have a very good team and there are a lot of talented players in the squad,” he said.
“It’s tough even for the coach (Norman Mapeza) to come up with his final squad of 18 because you feel that all the guys deserve their place in the team.

“The competition for places was tight during our training sessions and you could see that everyone was playing for his jersey.
“Simba Sithole gave the defenders all sorts of problems during training and, watching him play, you could feel that he deserves a place in the final 18. But the coach had to make decisions which he felt were good for the team and we are all happy that it worked out well.

“When you consider that we also have some players who were not available for one reason or another, like Tafadzwa Rusike and Onismor Bhasera, then you can understand that we have a really good team.”
Sithole, the red-hot CAPS United forward, who has turned into the chief marksman of the Young Warriors, only turns 19 on September 5.
The US Bologne midfielder said there was a spring in the Warriors’ step, following their win against Mali, and they were ready to face the challenges that await them in the final two rounds of the campaign.

The Warriors might have struggled to win matches in this campaign, but they have also been a tough team to beat and their only loss, in four matches, came against Mali in Bamako where they fell 0-1.

Karuru’s performance was being hailed by the fans yesterday with some saying that he should be converted into the central attacking midfielder rather than playing wide on the wings. The Warriors have been battling to find a playmaker, since Ronald Sibanda retired from international football, and there are some who now believe that Karuru should take over that role.

“The big void for a creative midfielder playing behind the strikers needs to be filled,” said a Warriors’ fan, Watson Chagwiza, contributing to a Facebook debate.
“Mushekwi needs that kind of player to push asmooth through pass because his first touch from a long pass is poor.

“Since Ovidy can play anywhere in midfield he could take that slot and the right wing can be taken by Quincy.
“If we are playing Tinashe and Justice together for whatever tactical reason, then Sadomba, who is comfortable receiving the long ball, should start ahead of Mushekwi.”

One fan described him as Zimbabwe’s own Kaka after the Brazilian maestro.
Karuru’s Facebook page was yesterday full of congratulatory messages from Zimbabweans hailing him for his superb show at Rufaro on Sunday.
Zimbabwe will host Liberia, in their next Nations Cup qualifier, in September and a win, depending on results in the other match between Mali and Cape Verde in Bamako, could take the Warriors top of the table.

Karuru said he was confident his Class of 2011, which revived their bond with their fans on Sunday, could complete the mission.
“it’s tough but you always have to believe,” said Karuru.