Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MARSHALL MUNETSI’s continued absence from struggling English Premier League side Wolves has raised questions over his sincerity following his seemingly endless ranting after missing out on a place in the Warriors squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Warriors bowed out at the group stage of the ongoing football showcase, which completed its Round of 16 matches last night with a clash between defending champions Cote d’ Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
While the Warriors may have long returned to their respective club bases following Zimbabwe’s elimination, their vice-captain Munetsi has kept debate on his exclusion alive with his insinuations that his absence was not about his calf injury.
The former Orlando Pirates and Stade de Reims, man suffered a calf sprain in a league match against Nottingham Forest on December 3, with the injury expected to fully heal inside six weeks.
That put paid to his hopes of joining the Zimbabwe squad for the continental show-piece that kicked off on December 21.
Munetsi, however, didn’t take the brave decision by coach Marian “Mario” Marinica lightly as he went on a rampage saying his exclusion had nothing to do with football.
“This one hurts, as representing the Warriors has always been a dream, and wearing our colours is the greatest honour of my career. AFCON would have been even more significant,” he wrote on his Instagram page.
He even sought to emotionally blackmail the Warriors’ technical crew and the general public, arguing that he had once left his wife on a hospital bed when travelling to represent Zimbabwe.
But Marinica stood by his decision and went on to have a pulsating competition in Group B, where the Warriors, however, crashed out on December 29 after losing twice to Egypt (1-2) and South Africa (2-3), with a 1-1 draw against Angola sandwiching the defeats.
While Munetsi had indicated he wasn’t feeling any pain and he could have been available for the Warriors’ second game against Angola, he remained on the list of injured players at his club and was never featured throughout the crammed festive fixtures.
In fact, Munetsi continues to be on the sidelines due to his long-term injury while his side who anchor the English Premiership log standings, with just one win in 20 matches, grapple with a thin squad owing to injuries to players.
Wolves manager Rob Edwards even had to name Munetsi’s compatriot Tawanda Chirewa in their match-day squad, just days after he returned from AFCON duties with the lanky Warriors forward being introduced in the second half as his club recorded their first win of the season when beating West Ham 3-0 last weekend.
While it is evident that Munetsi is carrying an injury or has been carrying one until at least last weekend, what has left many including ZIFA baffled is why the midfielder chose a war of words against the coach and the association.
Munetsi was recently interviewed by celebrated South African sportscaster Robert Marawa to which he said:
“I think it’s a big conversation for another day. From my side, I think I was injured, but I healed, I think, about two weeks ago. So, I’m good to go.
“From my understanding, correct me if I’m wrong, yeah, true. I think we had a discussion (about Wolves allowing him to play at the AFCON).
“Obviously, there were some concerns from their side about me playing the first game but we generally agreed that I should be able to play the second and third game.
“So from them, they had officially given me an opportunity to go and play for Zimbabwe.”
Surprisingly Zimbabwe played the second and third games of their AFCON campaigns at a time Wolves were also involved in EPL games of their own but Munetsi never made the match-day squads for the English club.
Asked by Marawa about his relationship with Marinica, Munetsi added:
“I think obviously at the time that he (Marinica) signed, we never really got to talk as much.
“We did have a conversation on the phone, but I never really had to meet him in person.
“So, I can’t really say that there is a relationship currently because we haven’t had the time to work together.
“But we did have some conversation on the phone when he was appointed.
“Obviously, you would want things to work out in a different way. But I think sometimes, you know, only God knows why.”
This year’s Nations Cup is the second that Munetsi has missed for Zimbabwe.
He was also conspicuous by his absence at the 2021 edition (played in 2022) in Cameroon due to injury.
While Munetsi chose to go on a warpath with ZIFA and Marinica over his omission, fellow senior player Jordan Zemura who plays for Udinese in Italy, took his injury blow in his stride and instead sent his best wishes message to the Warriors who made the AFCON squad.
Zemura, just like Munetsi, was injured in what was supposed to be his last match in the Serie-A before heading out to join the Warriors camp.
But unlike Munetsi, the 25-year-old former AFC Bournemouth star chose humility over maturity.
Said Zemura: “I am hurt I have been declared unfit to play at the AFCON. I really wanted to be part and parcel of the team. I love Zimbabwe and I wanted to play a role in the squad’s bid to qualify for the second round.
“But such is football. Disappointment is part of the game. Now I can’t do anything but support the team. I wish the team all the best in Morocco. I know they will do it.”
Zemura’s family members numbering up to nine including his father Sam and mom Sharon even travelled to Morocco to support Zimbabwe even in his absence.
The utility man was part of the 2022 AFCON side after braving a Covid-19 bout that forced him to miss the first match against Senegal.
When he finally travelled to Cameroon from his base in the UK then, Zemura endured a five-hour road trip from Yaoundé to Bafoussam where the Warriors were based.
Sources at ZIFA have indicated that Munetsi would have to write to the association, formally apologising for his unprofessional actions that undermine the players who went on to represent the country.
“The general consensus is that Munetsi is acting in an irresponsible manner. He thinks he is bigger than not only the Warriors but also the country.
“Football is about teamwork and supporting those picked at any given time,” the sources said.
“He has to respect the players who went and represented the country well. His rantings are suggesting that even if he is unfit, Zimbabwe doesn’t have any decent players to step in his absence. That’s not the behaviour expected of him or any other player.
“Why would he look down upon other players to the extent of saying he should be included in the team while he is injured and someone who is fit gets dropped? That’s uncalled for,” added the sources.
While there is no doubt about his status as a player plying his trade in a top league, the fact that Munetsi has missed six Wolves’ matches since getting the knock against Nottingham Forest on December 3, which was also the time he had been expecting to join the Warriors camp, underlines the severity of his injury.
This report clearly exposes the unprofessional behaviour of the media when it comes to accurately interrogating and reporting issues. I have made the same comments over and over again when the press went agog criticizing ZIFA and the coach for dropping Munetsi from the AFCON squad. I even sarcastically suggested that the media should join the Warriors technical team. Sports journalists are contributing to the chaos we find in our football. Now that it is confirmed that Munetsi carries a major injury what does Chiwanga, Bande, Sharuko and all the other noise makers have to say? Yes, Munetsi must apologise and too should these press “football experts” apologize to the nation for supporting a wayward player in the mould if Marshall Munetsi. Munetsi must be reminded that he is not bigger than the country and he is not first player to play in the EPL and he is not going to be the last. He must swallow his ego and calm down.