Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Reporter
ZIFA have continued with their audacious bid to grow the game at junior level and also ensure the senior national team remains competitive through initiatives that strengthen the flagship football side.
Hard on the heels of registering the Warriors for the just-ended Mukuru Four Nations tournament in Francistown, Botswana, ZIFA have pulled another weighty mission after securing a slot for the Warriors in yet another tournament that will feature African giants Nigeria at the end of next month.
Sources told Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday that ZIFA have entered the Warriors to be part of a Four Nations tournament in England, which will involve former African champions Nigeria.
This comes as the Warriors are fresh from winning a confidence-boosting Mukuru Four Nations competition after beating Zambia 1-0 at the Obed Itani Chilume stadium on Tuesday night.
In Francistown the Warriors competed against Botswana, Zambia and Malawi across the FIFA international break.
Victory in the tournament in Francistown helped the Warriors end an eight year trophy drought.
They had last won silverware in 2018 when winning the COSAFA Cup in Polokwane, South Africa.
The Four Nations tournament in England will also involve Jamaica’s Reggae Boys and Asian outfit India.
The contest is expected to run between May 23-31.
The ZIFA source added that: “I can tell you that the Warriors will play another leg of international friendlies next month when they are involved in another Four Nations tournament scheduled for England.
“It’s quite a huge step that ZIFA has taken. Zimbabwe will get to play against India, Jamaica and Nigeria in this tournament.
“Logistics are well on course and the tournament is as good as sealed.
“I can confirm that the process of putting this together started as early as the start of this year.
“It also coincided with the European tour of Warriors coach Marinica where he was identifying players who could potentially represent Zimbabwe.”
For the country, the tournament is expected to enhance team cohesion and give Marinica and his lieutenants, who include Zimbabwe legend Kaitano Tembo an opportunity to assess more talent ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Warriors will feature the race for places at the next AFCON to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with the qualifiers crammed between September and November this year.
While Marinica has talked much about the project he is putting together which is also aimed at sealing the 2030 World Cup ticket, the Romanian gaffer knows that AFCON qualification for next year’s tournament should be a must.
It will also be the last time that AFCON will be played after every two years as the tournament will now move to a four-year cycle.
“Basically, ZIFA wants to see a highly competitive Warriors squad being assembled.
“Coach Marinica is putting together a project earmarked to qualify for the 2030 World Cup. These are some of the steps ZIFA is taking to ensure that the 2030 dream comes true.
“The team should also prepare for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
“Marinica will also take the opportunity to field some of the players he intends to assess in this upcoming tournament,” the source said.
Zimbabwe won the Four Nations tournament in Botswana, albeit with a somewhat depleted side after six of the regular players who had been called up withdrew due to injuries.
These include Jordan Zemura, Tawanda Maswanhise and Knowledge Musona.
Players like goalkeeper Marley Tavaziva are yet to play a single game in Warriors colours despite being called up on a regular basis.
The Brentford man had been set to start the semi-final against Botswana, which Zimbabwe won 3-0 but Marinica was forced into a change of plan after the young goalkeeper reported receiving a knock.
And Marinica didn’t want any experiments in the final which he said he needed to win at all costs to put the squad in a strong pathway in terms of mentality.
Tavaziva and all the other potential squad members will get their chance in the upcoming tournament which Marinica will also be out to win as he seeks to build positive momentum.
Without mentioning the upcoming tournament in England, Marinica said after his team’s win over Zambia that: “What we want as a team now is to continue believing in ourselves and what we can do.
“Winning mentality needs to be sustained. That’s what we need to do right from here.”
