Online Reporter
MARSHALL Munetsi’s past month at English Premiership side Wolves has been bruising in ways both public and private.
The midfielder had been counting down to the AFCON finals, only for a calf injury and administrative errors to shut that door and leave him out of Zimbabwe’s squad.
At the same time, speculation began to swirl about a possible return to France, another reminder that his standing at club level is no longer secure.
On the pitch, Munetsi has become a player who splits opinion. Some supporters value his work rate and defensive discipline.
Others point to his limited technical output and question his place in a side fighting for survival.
Even before injury struck, Wolves manager Rob Edwards appeared to have cooled on him, starting Munetsi in just one of three matches when he was available. Inside the dressing room, the picture looks very different.
Teammates see a figure whose influence stretches beyond minutes played, and Tawanda Chirewa has offered a glimpse into that side of Munetsi, one that may give Edwards pause.
As Chirewa jets off to the AFCON, he has been quick to acknowledge the role Munetsi has played in his own development.
The 29-year-old may have been left behind through injury, though Munetsi himself has hinted there were other factors at play, but his presence has clearly been felt.
Chirewa, also Zimbabwean, has leaned heavily on Munetsi for guidance and shared how that relationship has shaped his approach to the game.
“The main thing I see from him is the positivity and the work rate, which I feel is something he has put onto me: to work hard every day and never let things outside of football, or how football’s going, affect your daily work, because the only way you can change your situation is by working hard.
“He’s definitely helped me with that.”
Wolves appear to be sliding towards relegation, and fans may argue over quality and tactics, but effort is the one currency they demand without compromise.
In that respect, Munetsi has rarely let anyone down.
The former Stade Reims midfielder has seldom been used in his natural role, often pushed further forward than suits his strengths.
When he returns from injury, Edwards faces a decision that could shape the rest of the season.
Munetsi’s passing can be blunt, but deployed deeper his ball winning, physical presence and engine could still serve Wolves well.
Time will decide Munetsi’s future.
Reports of interest from abroad suggest he may not even remain a Wolves player beyond January.
There was a time when Munetsi would have been among the last names considered for a move. Under Pereira, he was trusted almost to a fault, a reliance that frustrated supporters during the manager’s final weeks.
Edwards carries no such attachment to the box-to-box midfielder, and a departure now looks plausible, according to French outlet L’Equipe.
Injury has stalled any immediate move, but Munetsi had already been slipping out of the rotation following the change in the dugout. − molineux.news/Sports Reporter
Mathew Masinge