The revolving door in Warriors goal: Who will finally own the number one jersey?

For a country that once produced goalkeepers opponents feared, Zimbabwe has spent more than a decade searching for a man it can trust between the posts.

Since Tapuwa Kapini retired from international football in 2013, the Warriors’ number one jersey has become the most insecure shirt in the team. Passed around, taken away, handed back, and taken away again.

No coach has been able to settle on a constant, trusted first choice.

Washington Arubi, Tatenda Mukuruva, the late George Chigova, Ariel Sibanda, Donovan Bernard and Elvis Chipezeze have all had stints in goal since that period, with some solid, some spectacular on their day, but none managing to make the position their own for a sustained period.

Chipezeze is the latest to feel the full weight of that insecurity, once backed as the man to lead Zimbabwe into a new era but now facing a backlash over his recent performances at the highest level, a backlash everyone is aware of.

From the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where he conceded four goals against DR Congo, to the opening matches of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, where Zimbabwe beat Sierra Leone 3-2 but then lost 1-2 at home to DR Congo, the errors have followed him and the patience has run out.

Now, for the crucial double-header against Equatorial Guinea, the first leg in Yaounde, Cameroon on Thursday 12 November, and the return leg at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Monday 16 November, Chipezeze has been dropped.

In his place, coach Ramon Catala initially named four goalkeepers in his provisional squad: Martin Mapisa of Hardrock, Nelson Chadya of Scottland, Future Sibanda of ZPC Kariba and Aaron Ngwenya of Highlanders.

Martin Mapisa in Warriors colors. Picture by ZIFA

Catala himself has admitted he is yet to decide on his number one and will only do so after seeing all four in training.

Energy “Gokwe” Murambadoro, who was the Warriors’ number one when Zimbabwe played at their maiden Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia in 2004, believes the problem is not just talent, it is preparation.

“Back then I think what helped was the exposure to high-level football from young age groups,” Murambadoro told Fanzone.

“Most of the keepers played competitive matches at junior national teams level so when the call for senior team came one is sort of already adjusted to the nature of high-level performance,” added Murambadoro.

It is a point that cuts to the heart of the current crisis, because Zimbabwe’s great goalkeepers were not made overnight but were built over years.

Japhet “Shortcat” Mparutsa, widely recognised as one of the longest-serving and most capped goalkeepers in Warriors history, earned 63 caps between 1982 and 1995 and was a permanent fixture through the 1980s and early 1990s, including the famous ‘Dream Team’ era.

Bruce Grobbelaar, the iconic Liverpool goalkeeper, anchored the national side across multiple eras and gave Zimbabwe a presence and aura that few African nations could match.

Kapini, who earned 43 caps between 2001 and 2013, provided the last long period of stability, while Murambadoro himself, active from 2002 to 2008 and later returning as interim goalkeepers’ coach in 2021, was part of that bridge between the old guard and the new.

What linked them was longevity, continuity, trust from the coach, and crucially, time to grow into the jersey without being discarded after one bad game.

Murambadoro believes the current crop can still break that cycle, if they are given the platform and the belief.

“I am happy the Under-23 are playing competitive matches against high level opposition, that will help them also for the transition to national team,” he said.

And on the four men now fighting for the jersey against Equatorial Guinea, he is optimistic.

“The crop of keepers we have for this coming match I think will rise to the occasion, Mapisa, Chadya are top keepers and I believe they will do well for us,” he said.

“Chadya played in the CAF Champions League, Mapisa has been in the national team, so I believe it’s time for them to show they are there with the top players on the continent,” said Murambadoro.

Chadya certainly arrives in form, having kept 21 clean sheets in the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign for Scottland to set a new league record.

Mapisa has been a leader at Hardrock, Future Sibanda has earned his call-up through consistency at ZPC Kariba, and Ngwenya has earned his through big-match nerve.

The question now is not whether Zimbabwe has goalkeepers, because it has four of them, all in form and all hungry.

The question is whether Zimbabwe will finally allow one of them to become what Mparutsa, Grobbelaar, Kapini and Murambadoro were not just a goalkeeper for a match, but a number one for an era.

Against Equatorial Guinea, with qualification for AFCON 2027 on the line, Catala must make a choice, and the whole country will be watching who walks out first.

And whoever it is, he will know the history and he will know the jersey has not belonged to anyone for 13 years.

It is time for someone to own it again.

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