Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TAWANDA Chirewa says being called into the squad to represent the country at the AFCON finals is what he has been preparing for throughout his career.
The 22-year-old midfielder has also managed to squeeze his way back into the Wolves squad and has won the trust of his club coach Rob Edwards.
“I have been preparing for this moment my whole career. I am ready to take on the best teams in Africa and make a name for myself on the continent.
“This is a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to play for Zimbabwe and now I’m getting the chance to do so at the AFCON. I am feeling confident and focused.
“I am thrilled to be representing my country on the biggest stage in African football. I have worked hard to get here and I am ready to give it my all for the team.
“This is just the start of something special. We are a team blended with young talent and experience with a lot of potential, and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Warriors coach Mario “Super Mario” Marinica named his 28-man squad yesterday.
He once guided Malawi out of the group stages and now hopes to do the same with Zimbabwe.
Chirewa heads to the AFCON as the Warrior who is playing at the highest level when it comes to league football.
He is carrying the calm confidence of a young player who knows he has earned his chance.
His place in Zimbabwe’s final squad comes during a bold shift in selection that pushed some senior names aside and opened the door for footballers whose form has been hard to ignore.
The Wolves midfielder sits among the clearest signs of that shift, stepping forward at a time when the Warriors are searching for fresh direction.
His call-up landed on the same day the travelling group changed shape.
Vice-captain Marshall Munetsi was left out.
And, so was the injured Jordan Zemura and Terrence Dzvukamanja.
Super Mario has stressed that this tournament will favour players who match the intensity he wants and Chirewa has forced his way into that conversation. The 22-year-old arrives with goals that came at the right moments.
He scored against South Africa and Nigeria in competitive matches and added another in a friendly against Algeria.
He then missed the fixture against Qatar, yet his earlier performances kept him on the radar and eventually brought him back into the squad.
He talks like someone who has waited a long time for an opening and now intends to make it count. His confidence has been built slowly through training and competition, and it shows.
“I am proud to be part of this talented squad. We are a team with a lot of heart and determination, and I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Mario has leaned towards a younger core and Chirewa has become central to that approach.
Chirewa’s inclusion reflects more than a few months of good form.
It reflects a wider reset in the Warriors dressing room, where youth and energy are being trusted to lead the charge. At 22, he steps into a space that once belonged to older teammates and carries the belief that the moment now belongs to him.
For a team building toward a new rhythm, his rise arrives right on time.
