Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WARRIORS coach Marian “Mario” Marinica has lamented the number of injury-enforced withdrawals from the Zimbabwe squad but is equally happy with the replacements who have been added on short notice.
Zimbabwe’s senior team are back in business for the first time since their appearance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
And Mario’s new-look side have been in camp in Bulawayo ahead of the Mukuru Four-Nations tournament set for the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana, from March 28-31.
Following a draw that was conducted live in South Africa yesterday, the Warriors were drawn to face hosts Botswana with Kalisto Pasuwa’s Malawi dating Zambia in the other encounter.
The winners will advance to the final scheduled for the same venue on Tuesday next week.
Marinica had initially selected a full-strength team just like all the other participants in this tourney, for which a ZIFA initiative ensured there would be a title sponsor.
But the Romanian gaffer suffered some setbacks after a handful of players, including the red-hot Scotland-based striker Tawanda Maswanhise, Prince Dube, who plies his trade in Tanzania and ex-captain Knowledge Musona were forced to withdraw due to injuries.
Marinica has, however, not let that dampen his optimism about the Warriors he is trying to build.
The coach will get to implement some of his aspects of the game this afternoon when the Warriors play Premier Soccer League giants Highlanders in an exhibition match that will also form part of the on-going Bosso Centenary celebrations at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
After facing Highlanders, the Warriors will then leave for Francistown, Botswana, tomorrow, where they will have a single light training session on Friday before they play Botswana on Saturday.
Marinica got to work with most of the players in the team on Monday and yesterday but was still waiting for the arrivals of some, including defenders Munashe Garananga and Teenage Hadebe last night.
“Obviously, I would have preferred a situation whereby every player that I had selected managed to come here,” said Marinica.
“But several of them unfortunately got injured last week or last weekend just as they played their last games for their clubs before their scheduled flights.
“But such is the nature of this business. I had to bring on replacements who I am very happy with given the way they are asserting themselves at training.
“I am glad that ZIFA organised this practice match against Highlanders. I am eager to see how the new players like Jarrison Selemanai and Mongameli Tshuma will do at this level.
“I will get to have an appreciation of what they can do at this level of competition. And obviously, I want to see the progression of what we have been trying to do in terms of consolidating my philosophy.”
The former Malawi coach said the Warriors have been preparing with every opponent in mind and being paired against the hosts offers a whole lot of interesting perspective, given the home fans will attend the match in numbers.
“I am very happy with the work we have done in training so far. Basically, we have been preparing ourselves for this tournament with all the three teams in mind.
“We didn’t prepare for Botswana only; we also prepared for Zambia and Malawi because we didn’t know who we were going to face,” added Marinica.
“Now that we have been paired against Botswana, who are the hosts, we know the task is the same but a bit interesting.
“We know for sure being the hosts, Botswana will have a crowd which is good for football.
“Basically, we are ready to compete. We are going to Botswana for competition and that’s what we are going there for.”
Captain Marvelous Nakamba hailed the mood in the camp.
“So far so good,” said Nakamba.
“Most of the guys in the team have always been around. It makes things very easy for the technical team, and the new guys are showing a lot of zeal and enthusiasm as well.
“They are keen to learn and that has made the vibe in camp even better. We are hoping to start correcting what we have been failing in the past. We made mistakes at THE Africa Cup of Nations and it’s time to correct them,” Nakamba said.
