Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEWLY-appointed Zimbabwe national football team coach Mariana Mario Marinica is convinced they need to set standards as foundation for the team to successfully face future challenges.
He was speaking after he got the first glimpse of his charges yesterday in an introductory training session in Saudi Arabia ahead of the international friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar.
Zimbabwe face Algeria on Thursday before they play 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar next Monday in Doha.
Marinica, who was appointed last week replacing German Michael Nees, has been tasked to guide the Warriors at the AFCON 2025 finals in Morocco next month with an express mandate to qualify from the group stages for the first time.
But before the AFCON gig, Marinica will need to test his players against Algeria at the Prince Abdul Aziz Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday and then Qatar four days later.
The first batch of the Zimbabwe national team players arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday. The contingent which featured a mix of local-based and South African-based players was joined by Germany-based Jonah Fabisch in camp.
The rest of the European-based players were expected to complete arrivals later in the day, in time for the first training session at the King Abdul Aziz Sporting Arena. Marinica was excited by the initial responses from his players.
“The energy is excellent,” he said.
“The boys are showing hunger and professionalism. This camp is about setting standards — physical, tactical and mental. This friendly is an important test in our journey towards AFCON 2025.” Marinica emphasised discipline and swift transitions as key pillars of his coaching approach.
However, the coach has been robbed of the opportunity to see veterans Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, as well as Scottland teammate Tymon Machope who withdrew from the squad. Musona and Machope are nursing injuries while Billiat asked to be excused.
Warriors vice-captain Marshall Munetsi also requested to be excused to focus on club football at Wolverhampton Wanderers. But officials from ZIFA yesterday indicated the midfielder could join the squad in Qatar for the second match.
Sparring partners Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic has since named a 25-member squad for the international friendly matches against Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.
The squad comprises a blend of local and foreign-based players but the absence of Desert Foxes star Youcef Belaïli has sparked widespread reaction in the North African country.
These fixtures form part of the Warriors’ broader preparations ahead of the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers and are expected to provide crucial technical and tactical assessments for the team’s ongoing development.
Zimbabwe will face Egypt, South Africa and Angola in Group B at the AFCON finals which run from December 21 to January 18.
Algeria, who also play hosts Saudi Arabia next week, are also preparing for the AFCON finals set for next month while Qatar are using the international friendly against Zimbabwe to prepare for their participation in the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 as well as the 2026 World Cup finals.
Qatar’s match against Zimbabwe will be held at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium at in Doha (6:30pm Zimbabwean time and 7:30pm in Doha).
The Maroons will contest the Arab Cup 2025 within Group A, competing against Tunisia, the victor of the Syria and South Sudan qualifier, and the winner of the Palestine versus Libya playoff.
According to the latest FIFA world rankings, Qatar are ranked higher than Zimbabwe as they currently occupy 52nd place.
They are expected to give the Warriors, who are positioned at 129th globally, a good test of character.
