Karuru reborn after heartache at Chiefs

Ask Ovidy Karuru what happened at Kaizer Chiefs and his answer is honest: “I don’t know.” The 28-year-old Zimbabwean midfielder spent two years at Amakhosi from 2014 to 2016, but never got regular game time.

On further probing, Karuru opened up about the difficult time he endured in Naturena. He told Phakaaathi that when he joined Chiefs he was high on confidence as he had just come back from a five-year stint in Europe where he played for US Boulogne in France and OH Leuven in Belgium.

“They told me my style of play didn’t suit Chiefs,” said Karuru.

“I tried to change my style and lost myself. I mean, I can’t play like Shabba (Siphiwe Tshabalala). If I come on to replace him, I have to play my own way, but I tried to be like him and others just so I could be in the team,” he said.

The lack of game time frustrated him and he lost his confidence. He lost his place in the Zimbabwean national team because of his inactivity at club level.

“I tried to change and I lost my identity. I joined Chiefs from Europe where I was playing regularly. I come here and can’t play. Maybe I went to Europe by luck because if I could play there and not play here it means I was not good enough and was just lucky to get to Europe,” he explained.

He says he doesn’t regret the time he spent at Chiefs and has moved on as he focuses on his new journey with AmaZulu, whom he joined in January.

“Everyone has a different story in life. If I were to regret things that have happened which I can’t change, I would be wasting my life. I am now focusing on the future. It doesn’t matter what has happened, what matters is what lies ahead for me,” he said.

Karuru describes himself as a creative player who likes using his skills to eliminate opponents and create goal-scoring chances for team-mates. This was confirmed by his coach at Usuthu, Joey Antipas, when he signed him.

“Ovidy is a very deceptive type of player. He is a goal-scoring midfielder who can operate from both flanks as well as from the centre of the park. I believe he can give us another dimension in play and he’s also a very creative type of player. I worked with him in the national team before,” said Antipas of his new acquisition.

Karuru said working with Antipas again was the right move as he tries to get his confidence back. Antipas coached him in his native Zimbabwe.

“He knows me from when I was a young boy and understands what I can and cannot do. Even if I try to dribble and I give away the ball, he doesn’t shout because he knows I will get it right eventually and help the team.

“I have not been playing for a long time and I am not at the level I want to be at in terms of fitness and confidence but I can feel the difference since I came to AmaZulu,’’ he said.

Karuru believes Usuthu are a big team and don’t deserve to be in the National First Division. He would be happy to make a contribution in getting the Durban-based team back to the Absa Premiership.

“The team wants promotion. That is the message I got when I joined,” he said. But things have not been going well for

Usuthu who are currently in sixth place with 29 points, 12 adrift of leaders Thanda Royal Zulu.

Karuru hopes last weekend’s win against Mbombela United was a turning point. “We needed that win, especially away from home. It will boost our confidence.”

AmaZulu play Platinum Stars in a Nedbank Cup match on March 15, and Karuru is targeting a win over the Premiership side.