FOR some, the country is presently faced with a goalkeeper crisis.In the just-ended World Cup Qualifiers, Bernard Donovan and Geoffrey Chitsumba were given opportunities to assert themselves as the best in the land.
However, errors from both goal-minders have resulted in questions surrounding who could possibly be the Warriors number one.With the Cosafa Cup set for the end of this month, there is an opportunity for one young foreign goal-minder to prove his mantle if given game time.
Marley Tavaziva (20) who plays for Brentford B is another potential future Warriors star, as he appears to have chosen to play for the country of his origin.
He is in the Zimbabwe Cosafa Cup squad together with two other goalkeepers Chitsumba and Prince Tafiremutsa.There is hope he will answer the Warriors call this time around.
He received his first national team call-up when Zimbabwe played in the World Cup qualifiers late last year though he did not turn up for duty.The goal-minder joined Brentford B on a two-year scholarship in the summer of 2022 having been part of the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust’s post-16 Education programme.
Brentford B and the Community Sports Trust have had a positive relationship with players often given the opportunity to step into the set-up at Jersey Road to train with the young Bees.Marley’s first footballing memory was Little Kickerz in nursery and his proudest moment as a footballer was signing with Brentford.
His favourite football shirt is Barcelona’s 2021/22 away shirt and his footballing idol is Jordan Pickford.On Fifa, Marley enjoys playing as Manchester City.
The Warriors are set to resume their rivalry with Zambia after they were placed in Group B alongside Comoros and a fourth team yet to be confirmed. Malawi is expected to be the fourth team.
The tournament will be held in Durban from 26 June to 7 July. Zimbabwe is making a return to the regional tournament after missing the 2023 edition due to a Fifa ban.
Organisers have retained last year’s format which saw the 12 participating teams split into three groups of four sides, with the three pool winners and the best runner-up set to advance to the semi-finals.
The tournament will be used as preparation for the Afcon Qualifiers in September.
Marley Tavaziva
THE 2024 COSAFA CUP DRAW
GROUP A South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, Botswana
GROUP B Zambia, Team to be confirmed, Comoros, Zimbabwe
GROUP C Angola, Namibia, Lesotho and Seychelles
Warriors Cosafa Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Geoffrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds), Prince Tafiremutsa (Dynamos)
DEFENDERS: Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Thubelihle Jubani (Manica Diamonds), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Tawanda Chisi (Manica Diamonds)
MIDFIELDERS: Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy), Joel Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum), Kingsley Mureremba (CAPS United), Mthokozisi Msebe (Simba Bhora), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda Football Academy), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum), Tinotenda Meke (GreenFuel)
FORWARDS: Macauley Bonne (Cambridge United), Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum), Tinotenda Benza (Herentals), Denzel Mapuwa (GreenFuel)