Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE international Andy Rinomhota is back at English club Reading in what is a boost for the Warriors ahead of the 2025 AFCON finals next month.
Here is a bit of his romance with the Royals.
First-Team Debut
Having appeared on the bench a handful of times, Jaap Stam gave Andy the nod from the start in a Carabao Cup First Round tie with Gillingham.
The likes of Josh Barrett, Sam Smith, Liam Kelly and Omar Richards completed the set of Academy graduates from the start, the more experienced Kelly scoring twice in the 2-0 victory as Rinomhota played the entire 90 minutes.
He kept his place for Round Two, a victory over Millwall at the select Car Leasing Stadium.
League Break-Out
Making only one more appearance in 2017/18, Andy would get his Championship chances in 2018/19 under Paul Clement.
His first run-out in league football would come in a one-minute cameo at Deepdale for a 3-2 win over Preston North End, the first victory of the season. A month later, Andy would get 11 minutes in a 3-1 win over Millwall before earning his first start in November 2018, playing 78 minutes in a 3-2 win over Bristol City.
For the next three months, Andy played the full match in all bar two Championship matches, returning again for the final seven matches after injury.
Manchester United performance
Already a regular starter in the Championship, Andy really caught the eye on the grandest stage of them all.
For the second time in three years, the Royals were drawn against Manchester United in Round Three of the FA Cup.
Losing 4-0 in 2017, Jose Gomes’ side gave the Red Devils a much better game in 2019, losing 2-0 but creating plenty of their own chances. Playing the full match, Andy showed his class.
First Royals Goal
A goal and match now etched in Royals folklore; Andy could not have picked a better time to net his first Royals goal.
Yakou Meite put the visitors into an early lead at Carrow Road, but the league leaders scored twice in the final four minutes to break hearts. Or so they thought. Deep in stoppage time, the ball was fed into Rinomhota on the edge of the box and without even taking a touch he fizzed a strike into the top corner to salvage a crucial point in Reading’s battle to survive in the Championship.
Reading lost two of their final seven matches and retained their second-tier place.
Player of the Season Award
As good as it gets for an Academy graduate in their breakout campaign, Andy’s efforts were recognised by supporters come the end of the season as he was awarded Player of the Season.
The fact that he did this having only featured in 26 of the 46 Championship matches showcases his impact and the impression left on the squad. Six years later, he is still the most recent Academy graduate to lift the honour.
2020/21 Campaign
A frustrating season for supporters as it was mainly behind-closed-doors, Veljko Paunovic’s side gave those at home plenty of moments to cheer about.
The basis of the seventh-place finish was a superb double-pivot in midfield comprising of Andy and Josh Laurent. Andy made 42 Championship appearances that season and Josh, who won Player of the Season, made 45 out of 46. – Sports Reporter/Reading FC
