Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEW Warriors coach Marian “Mario” Marinica wasted no time getting down to business, taking charge of his first training session in Saudi Arabia yesterday as Zimbabwe gear up for a double test against Algeria and Qatar.
The Romanian gaffer, appointed last week to replace German Michael Nees, is under no illusions about the task ahead, leading Zimbabwe to their first ever knockout stage appearance at the AFCON finals in Morocco next month.
Before that big stage, Mario wants to see what his new boys can do when they face Algeria on Thursday and Qatar on Monday.
A mixed batch of locally based and South Africa based players touched down in Saudi Arabia yesterday, joined by Germany based star Jonah Fabisch. The rest of the European based crew were expected to arrive later in the day for the first full session under the new boss.
“This friendly is an important test in our journey towards AFCON 2025,” said Marinica, who will use these games to fine tune his squad ahead of the big tournament.
The Warriors are drawn in a tricky Group B alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Angola. The finals will run from December 21 to January 18.
Thursday’s opponents, Algeria, are also sharpening up for AFCON, while Qatar are using Monday’s clash to prepare for the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Qatar game kicks off at 6:30pm Zimbabwe time (7:30pm in Doha) at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Ranked 52nd in the world, Qatar will test the Warriors’ mettle. Zimbabwe, currently 129th, will have to show fight and hunger if they are to impress their new coach.
Meanwhile, Zifa at the weekend announced the establishment of a Coaches Committee to support the Warriors in the identification and development of local talent.
Serving as a vital conduit between Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches and the senior
men’s national team coach, the committee was elected by PSL coaches through an internal vote, a process that reflects their collective commitment to shaping the technical direction of the national game.
The initiative was led by Coach Marian Marinaca, whose leadership intends to foster greater collaboration and unity within the domestic coaching fraternity.
The election resulted in the appointment of Joel Luphahla, Tonderai Ndiraya, and Joey
Antipas as the three representatives who will serve on the committee.
“ZIFA extends its best wishes to the committee as it begins its important work and expresses sincere appreciation to Coach Mario for his openness, professionalism, and collaborative spirit.
“This initiative underscores ZIFA’s commitment to inclusive technical development and stronger cooperation between the Premier Soccer League and national football structures, as preparations intensify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations,” said Zifa.
