Hativagoni eyes more caps

BULAWAYO Chiefs captain, Malvern Hativagoni says he is hoping to get more national team call-ups after making his senior men’s national team debut at the just-ended Cosafa Cup tournament in South Africa.

The Warriors bowed out of the tournament in a devastating fashion at the group stages but Hativagoni is grateful for the opportunity to represent the country at senior level.

Hativagoni is not new to national colours as he has represented Zimbabwe at the junior level.

He was part of the 2018 Under-17 squad that played in the Cosafa Cup in Mauritius and he also travelled with the Under-20 team to Port Elizabeth in South Africa for another regional tournament.

Hativagoni played in all three games at the tournament.

“It is always an honour to play for the national team. I believe l gave a good account of myself at the tournament. Of Course, we did not perform well but the experience was special for me. As a footballer, these are the moments that one dreams of. All l have to do now is to continue working hard so as to become a key member of the national team.

“My goal now is to be a regular feature for the Warriors. I am willing to put in the shifts to make sure that it becomes a reality,” said Hativagoni.

With several key players linked with moves away from Chiefs in the mid-season window, Hativagoni says he is certain to be staying at Amakhosi Amahle.

“I have been hearing and reading about my move away from Chiefs, but l can guarantee you l am staying at the club. I am the captain of the team and the plan for me is to keep on producing good performances for the team as l hope to make myself a regular in the national team as well,” said Hativagoni.

Zimbabwe were last Thursday drawn into Group J of the 2025 Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers with Kenya, Cameroon and Namibia.

The draw was conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa.

They take on Kenya first before a battle against giants Cameroon in another fixture that will be played in September.
Zimbabwe’s third match of the campaign will be against Namibia before playing host to the same opponents in back-to-back fixtures that will take place between October 7 and 15.

Between November 11 and 19, the Warriors will face Kenya at home before taking on Cameroon in their backyard. —@innocentskizoe.