Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE local contingent of the Zimbabwe senior men’s football team players started trooping into camp yesterday as coach Mario Mariana Marinica gets the phased preparations for the AFCON 2025 finals underway in Harare today.
With just under three weeks before the kick-off of the tournament, the new Warriors gaffer wants to maximise the opportunity to assess the home-based players.
The Romanian called up a 55-man provisional squad last week and ZIFA said in a statement yesterday that the team will not waste any time as part of the structured preparations for the upcoming tournament to be held in Morocco.
“This preliminary phase affords the selected players one to five days to demonstrate their readiness, sharpness and tactical suitability, as head coach Mario “Mariana” Marinica and his technical staff conduct rigorous assessments in anticipation of the final squad consolidation for AFCON,” said ZIFA in a statement.
Marinica is expecting about 32 players in camp this week to kick-start the training programme. The local players are now in the off-season following the conclusion of the 2025 season at the weekend when giants Dynamos reclaimed the Chibuku Super Cup for the third time with a 1-0 victory over Triangle at Gibbo.
Formal training will commence this afternoon, but will be held behind closed doors.
“In alignment with elite performance protocols and the technical team’s preparation demands at this stage, the session will be held strictly behind closed doors, with no access granted to the public or the media.
“This controlled environment is essential to safeguard tactical rehearsals, maintain high levels of concentration and allow the technical staff to prepare the team with optimal confidentiality ahead of the continental show-piece,” the ZIFA statement added.
Marinica cast his net wide after consulting with a local committee of coaches which was formed at his request two weeks ago.
The coaches recommended all the players they hoped could stand a chance to make the final 23 for AFCON and they have this week to impress Marinica.
Among the players expected in camp are former captain Knowledge Musona, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Nelson Chadya, Donovan Benard, Kevin Moyo, Peter Muduhwa, Andrew Mbeba, Albert Manenji, Xolani Ndlovu, Abubakar Moffat, Junior Makunike, Kingsley Mureremba, Joseph Tulani, Mthokozisi Msebe, Nigel Elfas Matinha, Ishmael Wadi, Emmanuel Tafadzwa Ziocha, Billy Vheremu, Obriel Chirinda, Webster Tafa, Walter Musona, Ishmael Nyanhi, Jarrison Selemani, Genius Hute, teenage sensation Tadiwa Chakuchichi and Wilfred Madzungu of Division One side Sheasham.
“So, we look at these local players, but also we’re going to have some foreign-based players coming into the camp. We may be surprised,” Marinica said at his unveiling.
“So, we try to give everyone a chance. Like I said initially, my door is open to anyone.
“It doesn’t matter the league. It doesn’t matter where he plays in the world. It doesn’t matter the age, the door is open to anyone. No places are guaranteed. Everyone has to fight for their place, wherever they are.
“So, based on that, I want to have something of merit to have a strong squad, as best as possible, to do something.
“Maybe you’ll be surprised; some players may be missing in whatever we’re going to see, because these players, they have a genuine chance to prove themselves within these five days, to see if they can be selected now in a national team.
“After that, we’re going to the next stage and so forth, and we’ll end up with 23 players in the AFCON squad, which actually we think that at this point in time will be the players representative of the country, willing to fight for the country, being representative for the AFCON to try to create history for the country.
“So, I’m not looking like, you know, any given place to anyone. So, everyone, we start, you know, from a clean sheet.
“I think sometimes players, they have to be conscious that every single training, every single thing, everything they do, they are scrutinised and analysed.”
The AFCON tournament will run from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. The Warriors were drawn in Group B alongside neighbours South Africa, Egypt and Angola.
Marinica cannot have his foreign-based players any time soon since leagues elsewhere are now reaching the peak point.
“It’s a big challenge for all the teams in AFCON. What we have to do, we’ll have to assess every player, and we have to take also discussion with clubs, and we have to take player by player, case by case,” he said.
Warriors provisional squad:
Washington Arubi, Martin Mapisa, Elvis Chipezeze, Godknows Murwira, Emmanuel Jalai, Isheanesu Anselmo Mauchi, John Gerald Tungamirai Takwara, Munashe Peter Garananga, Teenage Lingani Hadebe, Brendan Joel Zibusiso Galloway, Jordan Bhekithemba Zemura, Jonah Reinhard Fabisch, Thandolwenkosi Methuseli Ngwenya, Daniel Msendami, Bill Leeroy Antonio, Tawanda Jethro Maswanhise, Walter Tatenda Musona, Tymon Machope, Tawanda Blessing Chirewa, Marshall Nyasha Munetsi, Marvelous Nakamba, Prince Mpumelelo Dube, Divine Xolile Lunga, Prosper Padera, Sean Sheunesu Fusire, Andrew Farai Rinomhota, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Washington Gift Navaya, Bonne Macauley, Nelson Tapiwa Chadya, Donovan Fungai Benard, Kevin Njabulo Moyo, Peter Muduhwa, Andrew Kabila Mbeba, Albert Manenji, Xolani Ndlovu, Abubakar Moffat, Junior Makunike, Kingsley Mureremba, Joseph Tulani, Mthokozisi Msebe, Nigel Elfas Matin-ha, Ishmael Wadi, Emmanuel Tafadzwa Ziocha, Billy Vheremu, Obriel Chirinda, Junior Zindoga, Alec Mudimu, Tadiwa Joshua Chakuchichi, Webster Tanaka Tafa, Knowledge Musona, Ishmael Nyanhi, Jarrison Sele-mani, Genius Hute, and Wilfred Madzungu.
