Munetsi still out: Marinica rings Warriors changes

WARRIORS coach Marian “Mario” Marinica has again left midfielder Marshal Munetsi out of the national squad, while veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi appears to have fallen out of the picture as the Romanian begins reshaping Zimbabwe’s team ahead of this month’s Four Nations tournament in Botswana.

Munetsi remains on the sidelines months after the dispute that followed Zimbabwe’s Afcon 2025 campaign, where his public remarks after being ruled out through injury upset national team authorities.

Sources close to the set up say the France-based midfielder is still expected to address the matter before he can return to the fold.

For now Marinica has chosen to move forward without one of the country’s most experienced midfielders.
Arubi’s absence also signals a shift between the posts. The Marumo Gallants goalkeeper has been a regular presence in recent national squads, but Marinica has opted for a younger group as he begins building towards Zimbabwe’s next Afcon qualifying campaign.

Two new names headline the squad. Ipswich Town defender Corbin Mthunzi and Haverfordwest midfielder Panashe Makwiramiti have both received their first senior national team call-ups after impressing in Europe.

Their inclusion follows Marinica’s recent tour of Europe where he met several Zimbabwean players, their club coaches and in some cases family members while assessing talent across the diaspora.

Zimbabwe will compete in the Four Nations tournament in Francistown from March 23 to 31, where they face hosts Botswana, Zambia and Malawi at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.

The tournament offers the Warriors a rare window to test combinations and introduce emerging talent while maintaining the experienced core around captain Marvelous Nakamba.

Defenders Teenage Hadebe and Gerald Takwara retain their places, while Scotland-based forward Tawanda Maswanhise has also been rewarded after strong club form.

Italy-based Jordan Zemura and promising midfielder Tawanda Chirewa miss out through injury concerns.
Goalkeeping duties will be shared between Elvis Chipezeze of Magesi FC, Brentford youngster Marley Tavaziva and ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Future Sibanda, who receives his first senior national team call-up.

Sarajevo defender Shane Maroodza also returns after previously earning a call-up under Jairos Tapera in 2024.
Marinica said his meetings with players in Europe left him confident about the direction the national side could take.
“I am very excited to have met the players that I met,” he said.

“There was positivity and I was impressed with how they are doing at their clubs. I had meetings with them, their coaches and also some of their parents.

“We want to build a good and competitive national team and the foundations are good.”
Zimbabwe were the last of the four participating nations to announce their squad, with Malawi already in camp preparing for the tournament.

Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC), Future Sibanda (ZPC Kariba), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)
Defenders: Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Emmanuel Jalai (Durban City), Corbin Mthunzi (Ipswich Town), Munashe Garananga (Hibernian), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misiruta), Isheanesu Mauchi (Chippa United), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Shane Maroodza (Sarajevo)
Midfielders: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Marvellous Nakamba (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonah Fabisch (FC Erzgebirge Aue), Panashe Makwiramiti (Haverfordwest), Prosper Padera (SJK Seinäjoki)
Forwards: Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Musendami (Orlando Pirates), Knowledge Musona (Scottland), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Macauley Bonne (Billericay), Thando Ngwenya (Amazulu)