Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Qatar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1)1
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)2
FINALLY, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.
For exactly 13 months, the Warriors failed to win a single game. Not even against lowly Lesotho.
But last night, they recorded victory in the most emphatic way, downing 2026 World Cup-bound and Asian champions Qatar in an international friendly at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
Munashe Garananga cancelled out Mohamed Khaled strike in the first half before substitute Bill Antonio sealed the win for Marian “Mario” Marinica 15 minutes before time.
It was only Marinica’s second game in charge of the Warriors after replacing the out of touch Michael Nees and his philosophy was in full show.
This was despite an early setback when his charges conceded inside just eight minutes.
Zimbabwe had been humbled 3-1 in another friendly by Algeria in Saudi Arabia last week but they were never lacking in both ambition and deploying the right structure.
Marinica was then subjected to social media attack about his supposed “fallout” with players.
But the Romanian tactician chose Qatar as the stage not only to silence doubters, but to give the whole nation profound hope, especially with the December-January Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco just around the corner.
The Qatar game was the final rehearsal before Zimbabwe plunge into the AFCON, where they are hoping to progress into the second round for the first time in six attempts.
Marinica knows that the stage well having led Malawi to the last 16 during the 2021 AFCON finals in Cameroon.
And there is every reason for Zimbabweans to trust him going into Africa’s premium tournament next month.
Last night’s showdown was by far Zimbabwe’s best performance in the last six or so years.
Qatar is ranked 52nd in the world and the Warriors are 129th on the ladder.
But that never showed with Marinica making significant changes to the side that lost to Algeria last Thursday.
Goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, Godknows Murwira, captain Marvelous Nakamba, Emmanuel Jalai and Daniel Msendami were all handed starting berths in the gaffer’s 3-5-2 formation.
And they all held their own with Chipezeze showing a lot of maturity, pulling a lot of reflexes to deny the marauding Maroons.
But things seemed to be going upside down when Khaled spectacularly picked the top corner to put the hosts ahead.
By then Zimbabwe were chasing shadows with Qatar bossing possession at 80-20.
But Zimbabwe were never going to wave the white towel. Not with Marinica and his captain Nakamba having committed to show that the dressing room wasn’t divided in any way prior to the match.
Their response was massive.
They forced a corner, which Murwira expertly whipped in, with Garan’anga pushing himself off his markers to put a firm header behind it.
Once the scores were level, Zimbabwe continued to ask the difficult questions forcing Qatar coach Julen Lopategui to ring seven changes in the second stanza.
With Qatar becoming restive in their desperate search for an equaliser, the Warriors pounced.
Antonio picked up a loose ball on the right flank and sprinted down, his cross-cum-shot somehow finding the target.
Then they closed shop, in a superb manner to give their coach a warm welcome to his post. Marinica gathered his team after the match for a warcry with everyone in the team displaying the togetherness that had just driven them to this victory.
“We still need to work hard but these are the good signs. I am very happy with the win,” Marinica said.
Zimbabwe will now come back home before the local lot gather for a camp and their foreign counterparts later on joining in preparation for the AFCON.
Warriors Squad
Elvis Chipezeze, Emmanuel Jalai, Munashe Garan’anga, Teenage Hadebe (Gerald Takwara 62min), Sean Fusire (Bill Antonio 62min), Daniel Msendami (Washington Navaya 84min), Prince Dube (Prosper Padera 46min), Marvellous Nakamba, Godknows Murwira, Devine Lunga, Jonah Fabisch
