MARLEY Tavaziva is targeting to be the Warriors number one goalkeeper as he looks to solve the team’s recent woes in that department.
The 20-year-old Brentford B player is one of the three Warriors goalkeepers in camp for the Cosafa Cup tournament, which kicked off in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, yesterday.
Zimbabwe open their campaign with a clash against Comoros this afternoon at 3pm.
Born in England, Tavaziva has committed his allegiance to Zimbabwe and is hoping to finally make his international debut in the Warriors colours during this week’s regional Cosafa tournament.
Speaking to the media yesterday, the lanky player said he was excited to be part of the squad and wants to be the number one goalkeeper in the team.
“There is a lot of competition in the team for the number one spot,” Tavaziva said.
“We have two very good goalkeepers, but obviously everyone backs themselves. A big goal of mine is to be the number one and make sure to cement my spot in the team. I want to perform well for Zimbabwe and hopefully win some trophies.”
He received his first national team call-up when Zimbabwe played in the World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria late last year, but did not turn up for duty.
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Tavaziva would honour the call when Zimbabwe participated in a four-team invitational tournament in Malawi early this year, but he was not used in the whole tourney.
He was also omitted in the Warriors squad that fell to Lesotho and South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers played in South Africa earlier this month.
The two matches would be remembered largely for the gaffes made by goalkeepers Benard Donovan against Lesotho while Geoffrey Chitsumba also gifted South Africa a goal.
Tavaziva is hopeful that he will be given a chance to prove himself.
“I am excited to be back in the squad and it is always a pleasure to be part of the Warriors, pulling in the shirt. I can’t wait to get going. I am excited.”
He will fight for the place in the starting line-up against Simba Bhora’s Simba Chinani, who was a last-minute inclusion into the squad and Highlanders number one Raphael Pitisi.
“My objective is to train well, keep performing, stay on top of my body and make sure there are no injuries. Obviously I want to play well if I do play. I just want to keep pushing myself,” added Tavaziva, who is one of the only four foreign-based players in the Warriors squad.
The others are defender Shane Maroodza of Huddersfield, midfielder Joey Phuthi of Sheffield United and Tatenda Tavengwa, who plays for Venda FC in the lower leagues in South Africa.
Zimbabwe will be hoping to get their campaign on a positive note against an ever-improving Comoros side, who reached the knockout stages of the Cosafa competition in recent times.
Preparations for the tournament have not been very ideal for the Jairos Tapera-coached side, which only arrived in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday evening.
The hastily-assembled squad, made of fringe players, only trained once in the afternoon yesterday ahead of the match.
But they are still expected to go past Comoros, a side that they beat 2-0 when the two teams last met in this competition in 2019.
Today’s match marks the return of Zimbabwe to the competition, having missed the last two editions due to a Fifa ban.
Caps United defender Godknows Murwira has been handed the armband and will be hoping to lead the squad to glory.
Team
Goalkeepers: Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Raphael Pitisi (Highlanders), Simba Chinani (Simba Bhora)
Defenders: Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield), Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Farai Banda (Manica Diamonds), Malvern Hativagoni (Bulawayo Chiefs)
Midfielders: Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda FC), McKinnon Mushore (Highlanders), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Donald Mudadi (Dynamos), Kingsley Mureremba (Caps United), Tinotenda Meke (GreenFuel), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum)
Forwards: Michael Tapera (Manica Diamonds), Never Rauzhi (Bulawayo Chiefs), Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum), Washington Mapuya (GreenFuel)
