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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international striker Matthew Rusike may have done enough to convince Kaizer Chiefs to extend his contract after inspiring the Amakhosi to a championship-winning victory on Wednesday night.

Rusike fired a fine brace as Chiefs romped to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Polokwane City to claim the 2015 ABSA Premiership title.

The victory meant Chiefs, who are also home to Rusike’s countrymen, Willard Katsande and Ovidy Karuru, took an unassailable 63 points, with three games to spare.

Rusike’s contract expires at the end of the season on May 9 and the former Jomo Cosmos and Monomotapa man will be hoping that his performances, in which he scored three times and started seven matches, did enough to convince Chiefs’ gaffer, Stuart Baxter, to retain him. The Zimbabwean was a target of some Chiefs boo-boys but the striker told KickOff.com that he was unfazed by all that.

“I don’t really take much notice (of the boos) and I focus on the job at hand. What is done is not within my world and it doesn’t affect me, really,” he said.

“As I said, the players that I play with and the coaches respect me. We respect each other and I’m happy, they are happy.

“I have the support of my teammates and the coaching staff . . . I believe in my ability and I believe in myself so I just need to continue working hard.” Katsande, who also contributed a lot to the team’s success, said Rusike must not look at the negatives but remain focused.

“I always tell him that he must keep on working hard. It is just that the fans will look the other way of his game,” said Katsande.

“But overall, he helped us a lot in terms of defending. He always pays attention to the coach’s instruction and he is really an important player for us. “There is still a lot to come from him, he must continue working hard and not try to listen to negatives.

“Chiefs is a big team and everybody has his or her opinion.”

Yesterday, Rusike’s manager, Edzai Kasinauyo, could not be drawn to comment on the future of the player but chose to congratulate the Amakhosi.

“Kaizer Chiefs played very well to win the league with three games to spare. But it doesn’t surprise me as they are very consistent, organised and a reflection of how a team should be,” said Kasinauyo.

“It is not by fluke that they won the league.

“Looking at the skill, Zimbabwean players are providing at the club, I am not surprised that they have won the league twice in three years.

“Willard is a consistent performer while Matthew struggled before coming in slowly.

“The Zimbabwean players have a lot that they are contributing to South African football. Ovidy struggled this season but everyone knows what he is capable of and that he is talented.

“He just needs to be patient he will come right next season. It is a pity Kingston had to leave early but it happens in football.”