FORMER Warriors number one keeper George Chigova has tipped Tatenda Mukuruva to shine at the 2017 Afcon finals and has no hard feelings for coach Kallisto Pasuwa who omitted him from the travelling party.

The giant goalie was in fine form for Polokwane City just before the ABSA Premiership midseason break but was overlooked by Pasuwa when the gaffer initially named his 31-man provisional squad in December.

While the inclusion of Pasuwa’s trusted duo of Mukuruva and Donovan Bernard did not raise much dust, the addition of ZPC Kariba’s Takabva Mawaya and Ngezi Platinum's Nelson Chadya, ahead of veterans like Goalkeeper of the Year Petros Mhari and Chigova triggered massive debate.

Commenting for the first time on his snub, the 25-year-old Chigova admitted he expected a call-up given his current performance but at the same he has belief in Mukuruva, his understudy during their days at Dynamos three seasons ago.

“It is every player’s dream to play for your national team but the reality is we can’t all play for the Warriors.

“But I have no hard feelings, all I have to do is to give 100 percent support to the guys going to the finals in Gabon,” said Chigova.

In 2013 Chigova was Pasuwa’s first choice goalie at DeMbare while Mukuruva, then only 17, was the third choice behind Artwell Mukandi.

Three years down the line, Mukuruva who turns 21 on Wednesday has not just taken over the DeMbare first choice keeper tag but he is also now the undisputed Warriors number one shot stopper.

And Chigova is backing his former Dynamos teammate to flourish at the Africa Cup of Nations finals which kick off in Libreville on January 14.

“You see, Mukuruva has grown in confidence because he played a number of Afcon qualifiers. I am sure he can go there and the job.

“No doubt about that,” said Chigova, who was the Warriors number one when Zimbabwe finished fourth at the 2014 CHAN finals in South Africa under Ian “Dibango” Gorowa.

When Pasuwa was appointed to take charge of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers, the record breaking coach opted to throw Mukuruva into the deep end ahead of Chigova and Washington Arubi.

“He (Mukuruva) has improved a lot. The good thing about football is that the more you play the more you improve.

“Playing for a big team like Dynamos has helped him in terms of confidence building. He just needs to continue working hard because he is on the right path,” said Chigova.

The Aces Youth Academy product can have solace from the fact that his team Polokwane are punching above their weight in this season’s ABSA Premiership campaign.

Rise and Shine have accumulated 21 points, four behind Kingston Nhkatha’s Supersport United who went to the season’ break leading the ABSA Premiership log standings.

Chigova has started in all of Rise and Shine’s 15 league games, making a number of crucial saves at the numerous occasions he has been exposed by a weak defence.

Polokwane City’s backline is one of the leakiest in that league with 20 goals conceded in 15 matches and Chigova has earned man of the match accolades in games his side failed to win.

“We have finished the first round of the season and we are sitting on position five, for us that is okay. All we need to do is work harder in the second round.

“My expectation is for my club to finish in the top four and also for me to play as many games as I can,” said Chigova.