Donovan is a product of the now famed Aces Youth Soccer Academy, where some officials recon he is even more talented than Warriors goal-minder George Chigova. Mukuruva on the other hand emerged from the shadows at champions Dynamos to wrestle the number one jersey from the more experienced Artwell Mukandi towards the end of the just ended season.
But it is Donovan who has started as first choice in the Under-23 team’s three friendly matches so far. He made his premiership debut with Motor Action last season before moving to How Mine at the beginning of the year, and his coach Luke Masomere is convinced that this is only the beginning of greater things to come.
“The young man has a lot of potential. He played a very big role in our fight for survival this season. Of cause he is still learning and can make mistakes but his advantage is that he is always willing to learn.
“I can see him becoming a very good goalkeeper for the Warriors in the coming years,” Masomere told the Zimbabwean this week.
But while Donovan is in the driving seat for the Under-23s, Mukuruva cannot be discounted. A little known reserve goalkeeper for much of the season at Dynamos, the 18-year-old grabbed his chance following an injury to Mukandi towards the end of the season and never looked back.
He has not betrayed any nerves playing before multitudes of demanding Dynamos supporters, impressing with a kind of decisiveness and maturity which belies his tender age.
If he can take his form into the coming season, he will be well placed to capitalise on any slip-ups to topple Donovan in the Under-23 team.
Post published in: Football