Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MARIAN “MARIO’’ MARINICA has opted for inclusivity in his approach to his new Warriors job with the Romanian yesterday roping local Premier Soccer League coaches to assist in the national team’s quest for revival.
Marinica, appointed by ZIFA on Tuesday night, wasted no time in getting down to business and also unveiled his backroom staff in which the association guaranteed continuity by ensuring that former Warriors vice-captain Kaitano Tembo is retained as an assistant.
Tembo had just worked for two games when ZIFA fired Michael Nees last month.
Despite questions being raised about his prospects for success given his record with Malawi and Liberia, Marinica appears to have endeared himself with his PSL counterparts with whom he had “a fruitful meeting yesterday’’
It was during that virtual meeting that Mario proposed that the PSL coaches choose a three-member review committee amongst themselves, who will be working closely with the national team technical set-up.
The 60-year-old Romania-born British coach also named his side for the upcoming friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar.
The Premiership coaches were by last night still voting and consulting in order to come up with the three-member committee.
This is the first time in the history of Zimbabwe that an expatriate coach voluntarily ropes in independent technical brains to review and give feedback on Warriors performances.
Such is the positive vibe Marinica has created that the Premiership coaches spent their time trying to be meticulous in doing the whole process.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who is fresh from guiding the newcomers to the championship to add to his triumph with Simba Bhora last year, was charmed.
Ndiraya lauded the Romanian for his approach and said Marinica wouldn’t have done it better.
The former Dynamos gaffer was a co-assistant for the Warriors during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers alongside Lloyd Chitembwe under Zdravko Logarusic.
“I mean, this is the way to go. Kudos to coach Marinica for considering us, as local Premiership coaches,’’ Ndiraya aid.
“We work daily with these players and we also follow those playing outside the country very closely.
“What I know for certain is that local coaches are so passionate about the game. They have so much energy, so much depth and so much affinity for football.
“What I liked about the arrangement is that the three-member review committee can also consult with the rest of the Premiership coaches.
“This brings a sense of ownership for the national game and I think coach Marinica deserves a pat on the back for this,’’ Ndiraya said.
Marinica, who has previously coached Malawi and led them to AFCON round of 16 emphasised to the coaches that national team call-ups should be based on current form no matter the players’ age.
TelOne gaffer Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa said Marinica’s stance inspires confidence in the national game.
“It’s very unfortunate that we have seen players in flying form being totally ignored in the past,” Maruwa said.
“Look, we have heard so many coaches speaking about the need to have a local player be in top form for four, five years, that’s absurd to say the least.
“Form is everything a player needs to be in the squad. We are happy coach Marinica’s vision speaks exactly to that.
“Having local coaches getting roles in the Warriors set-up is a positive step and we really appreciate both ZIFA and the new coach.”
Herentals College coach Paul Benza echoed the same sentiments.
The development came on a day that Marinica announced his squad to play in international friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next week.
Marinica will have a chance to assess his squad, with the help of the technical review committee in these rehearsal games ahead of the Warriors’ participation in the Africa Cup of Nations in December-January.
Marinica has included PSL leading scorer Washington Navaya of TelOne as well Scottland’s Tymon Machope while he has also returned Finland-based Prosper Padera and Sheffield Wednesday’s Sean Fusire.
Vice-captain Marshal Munetsi has been left out apparently to let him stay on at Wolves where he now has a new coach while Khama Billiat has also not been called up so has Thando Ngwenya of Amazulu in South Africa.
The trio was the notable absentees from the regular Warriors side that has been doing duty in the recently concluded 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Warriors Squad
Goalkeepers: 1. Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants FC), 2. Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC), 3. Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC)
Defenders: 4. Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata SC Libya), 5. Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), 6. Godknows Murwira (Scottland FC), 7. Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), 8. Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), 9. Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), 10. Brandon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle FC)
Midfielders: 11. Jonah Fabisch (FC Erzgebirg Aue FC)
12. Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC)
13. Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town FC), 14. Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday FC), 15. Prosper Padera (SJK Seina Joki), 16. Jordan Zemura (Udinese), 17. Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants FC)
Strikers: 18. Knowledge Musona (Scottland FC), 19. Tymon Machope (Scottland FC), 20. Prince Dube (Young Africans SC), 21. Washington Navaya (TelOne FC), 22. Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell FC), 23. Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen FC), 24. Walter Musona (Scottland FC)
TECHNICAL TEAM: Marian Marinica (Coach), Kaitano Tembo (Assistant Coach), Pernel Charles Mckop (Goalkeepers’ Coach), Chikondi Mandalasi (Strength and Conditioning),
Abraham Mbaiwa (Fitness Trainer), Ronald Dumisani Moroka (Analyst), James
Makoni (Analyst)
