Staff Reporter| While the Zimbabwe national soccer team battles to get a top international goalkeeper to match the credentials of the great Bruce Grobler, the country has completely ignored calls for recognition from top Australia based goalie Tando Velaphi who has since opted to pursue his career with his country of birth, Japan instead of Zim.
Born of a Zimbabwean father and a Japanese mother in Australia, Velaphi, has always had an option to choose which of the three countries to pursue his international career with and opted for his ancestral, Zimbabwe.
However, the Zimbabwean football fraternity opted to ignore his calls for consideration.
The 25 year old goalkeeper who has been playing in the Australian top league throughout his professional career and for the Aussie under 23s has signed a three year contract with top Japanese J League one side Shonnan Bellmare.
The move to Japan is a clear indication by the shot stopper that he has decided to pursue his international career with Japan the land of his mother’s birth.
Velaphi has played for top Australian sides Melbourne Victory andz Melbourne City.
When the player was first introduced to Zimbabwean national team selectors in 2013, the local football administrative body ZIFA claimed that it did not have money to invite the goalkeeper for national team trials.