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Africa’s Under-23 soccer team when the regional giants clash in the final round of the All-Africa Games qualifiers next month.
Rusike, who plies his trade at Jomo Cosmos in the National First Division, says his experience with South African football has helped him appreciate the strength of the Amaglug-glug side, who pulled through to the second round courtesy of a 5-3 aggregate win over battling Malawi.
“In any game you have to respect your opponents but I think we are equal to the task in this game.
“I know most of the players in the South Africa team and three of them are my teammates at Cosmos.
“It’s quite a strong side but we can match them man for man. We only need to get a good preparation which includes going in camp early. Organisation is key on the part of the players, the coaching staff and Zifa, too.
“Our camp was a bit in shambles the last time when we played Botswana because of things beyond our control and we should get a better preparation this time.
“The team played well, however, and everyone performed to the best of his ability,” he said.
Rusike, who fired home Zimbabwe’s second goal in the 4-1 destruction of Botswana in the second leg of the first round qualifier, said the Young Warriors have depth and a bright future ahead of them if handled well.
Friday Phiri’s men have been in fantastic form having also dispatched a well-drilled Zambia Under-23 side 4-3 on aggregate.
But they now face their final hurdle in South Africa’s Amaglug-Glug in what promises to be a bruising encounter in the first leg scheduled for the weekend of June 24-26 at Rufaro and the reverse leg coming two weeks later.
Winners between the two neighbours will grab the ticket to the 10th All-Africa Games to be held in Mozambique from September 3-18.
The Young Warriors advanced from the first round at the expense of Botswana after winning 6-3 on aggregate early this month.
Rusike has high regard for the quality of talent bred in Zimbabwean football and gave credit to the legion making waves in the South African Premiership.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat, who is gunning for the title with Ajax Cape Town, are also eligible for the Under-23 side although they have not been part of the qualifiers.
“I reckon that there is abundant talent in Zimbabwe. For example there is good quality in the current Under-23 side and I believe that there are even more talented players who have not been given the chance to prove themselves.
“As long as you give the younger players a chance to play we have a good future to look forward to,” he said.
He also revealed his ambitions for the Warriors.
“Obviously it is my aim to play for the senior team one day. I just have to keep working hard and perfecting my game.
“I haven’t played much at Cosmos since joining them in December and I have scored four goals.
“Right now we are on the verge of qualifying for the South African Premiership,” he said.