TAVAZIVA FINALLY GETS HIS CHANCE

Zimpapers Sports Hub

Niger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1

ZIMBABWE coach Michael Nees lived up to his pledge to use the FIFA international window to see as many players as he could and last, the German gaffer handed youthful England-based goalkeeper Marley Tavaziva a long-awaited first Warriors cap.

The setting was the Stade Pere Jego in Casablanca, Morocco with West African side Niger as the opponents.

Unfortunately for Tavaziva, there was no victory to spice up his maiden dance with the Warriors as his goal was breached late to allow the Menas a share of the spoils in this international friendly.

Tavaziva’s fellow new boys who include Tawanda Macheke, Bill Antonio, Mason Mushore and Sean Fusire could also not celebrate a win in Warriors’ colours as Nees’ men were 2-0 down by Burkina Faso in another friendly match last Friday.

Refreshingly for the Warriors, there was an improved performance from their showing against the Burkinabe Stallions.

And they duly raced into an early lead courtesy of Gerald Takwara.

The stocky defender was at the right place at the correct time as Niger conceded two corner kicks in succession while under pressure from the Warriors.

Takwara, who had his back to the goal in a crowded area, had all the time to control the ball and then fired a rising shot from close range after the Niger players put in a half-hearted commitment from the second corner kick.

Nees, who is on a talent discovery mission as part of the preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco in December, once again tinkered with his team.

He finally rested his first-choice goalkeeper Washington Arubi and brought in the returning Elvis Chipezeze, who had been absent from the Warriors for half a dozen years.

Simba Bhora defender Isheanesu Mauchi was thrust in to partner Gerald Takwara in central defence.

There was also a start for another Warriors long-term absentee Jonah Fabisch, who plays in Germany.

Sheffield Wednesday man Fusire and Fabisch were thrown into the heart of the midfield as twin defensive link-men while TelOne striker Macheke was deployed as the point man.

Fabisch was a composed figure the whole 90 minutes and kept it simple in his game.

Unlike last Friday when they were not given the space to play by Burkina Faso in that 0-2 defeat, the Warriors appeared much comfortable on the ball although at times they tended to overdo things, often to their detriment.

Veterans Teenage Hadebe who played fullback and Tino Kadewere, who was deployed a bit deeper behind Macheke, bossed their opponents, while Tawanda Maswanhise caused problems on the wings.

However, over-confidence threatened to undo their efforts.

Zimbabwe survived in the 23rd minute when the ball came off the foot of the upright, with goalkeeper Chipezeze beaten by a shot from Azerbaijan-based midfielder Issa Djibrilla following a sloppy piece of defensive work.

The Warriors were forced to do more of the defending for the rest of the first half and could also count themselves fortunate after twice bundling the ball out to safety from the line.

Nonetheless, they managed to hold on to their slender lead at the break.

Nees then made more changes, finally giving young goalkeeper Tavaziva his first cap at the restart before throwing in Daniel Msendami, Walter Musona and Mthokozisi Msebe midway through the second stanza.

Tavaziva, who is on the books of English Premiership side Brentford, had until last night, received consistent call-ups to the national team in the last two years but never got an opportunity to play. His big chance finally came yesterday and unfortunately, he was beaten from the spot after the Warriors conceded a penalty, which was converted in the 71st minute. Second-half substitute Musona could have restored Zimbabwe’s advantage, but his shot was parried to the cross-bar by the Niger goalkeeper Mahamadou Tandja.

Nees still needed to assess combinations and had to make a double substitution with 11 minutes remaining by turning to regulars Terrence Dzvukamanja and Khama Billiat but the Warriors could not find that last-gasp spark that could have handed them victory.

Teams:

Zimbabwe: Elvis Chipezeze (Marley Tavaziva, 46th min), Emmanuel Jalai, Gerald Takwara, Teenage Hadebe, Isheanesu Mauchi, Jonah Fabisch, Sean Fusire (M. Msebe, 65th min), Tawanda Macheke (T. Dzvukamanja, 79th min), Bill Antonio (D. Msendami, 65th min), Tino Kadewere (K. Billiat, 79th min), Tawanda Maswanhise (W. Muso-na, 65th min)

Niger: Mahamadou Tandja, Abraham Gora, Oumar Sakoh, Ousseini Badamassi, Oumarou Youssouf, Mohamed Ali, Abou-bacar Camara, Victorien Adebayor, Issa Djibrilla, Moumouni Darenkoum, Daniel Sosah