Cardiff City’s Rinomhota ready for Warriors dance

Rest Mutore

Cardiff City midfielder, Andy Rinomhota, has finally expressed his interests to play international football with Zimbabwe.

The former Reading player, who has been on the Warriors radar for over five years, blamed injuries for failing to play for Zimbabwe. But, now he is looking to take steps to earn another international call.

“It’s a great platform to showcase your ability,” Rinomhota, who has made 13 appearances for Cardiff this season told BBC Sport.

“And it’s another experience and another side to my game which I could add by playing international football. It would be a good experience.”

Leeds-born Rinomhota, 25, qualifies for Zimbabwe because his father was born in the African country.

Zimbabwe first explored Rinomhota’s availability in 2017 and he was called up by the Warriors in 2018 while at Reading – with former coaches like Kalisto Pasuwa, Sunday Chidzambwa and Joey Antipas all eager to work with him.

“At the time they called me up I was injured so I could not go there for those reasons,” Rinomhota added.

“It would be an issue of applying for a Zimbabwean passport.

“I just have not got around to that sort of process yet, but it is something I am going to look into.” Rinomhota joined Cardiff this summer on a three-year deal, having made more than 130 appearances for the Royals.

He is aware international breaks can provide valuable respite for players not involved at that level, especially those like him who have a particularly energetic style.

But he admits he would find it “tempting” to have the opportunity to test himself on the international scene.

Zimbabwe is, however, currently suspended from all international related activities by FIFA.