Online Reporter
Inside ZIFA
Nqobile Magwizi
FOOTBALL has a way of testing even the strongest hearts.
After going a full year without a victory, it is understandable that the most loyal fans, the most committed administrators and even the most seasoned players could begin to question, to doubt and to search for someone to blame. That is the nature of the game: When results do not come, emotions rise and narratives take on a life of their own.
In the past few weeks, there has been intense scrutiny around our national team.
Accusations flew, stories circulated and confidence wavered. As ZIFA, we listened intently, because every supporter’s voice matters, and every concern raised comes from a place of love for the Warriors.
And then came Monday night.
Zimbabwe’s win over Qatar in the second match under our new coach Marian “Mario” Marinica reminded the nation of something simple, but powerful: The Warriors always rise. Football restores belief quickly. A single moment can shift the mood of an entire country, and the performance of our boys did exactly that. It showed courage, unity and a desire to play for the badge.
Our captain, Marvellous Nakamba, captured the spirit of the moment beautifully.
In an interview, he thanked the fans, the administration and the team’s partners for standing with the Warriors.
He asked for continued support as the team prepares for a historic mission: to qualify for the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in our history, at the sixth time of asking. As we look towards AFCON in Morocco this December, one truth stands out: The Warriors perform better when there is peace, unity and calm at home.
The players need to know that the nation is behind them, especially in this delicate period as the technical team builds a new identity and a new culture.
Rebuilding takes time. Growth takes time. Success takes time.
Part of rebuilding also means being prepared to make the difficult decisions, including those that may not always be popular, but are necessary for the long-term health and competitiveness of our football.
As ZIFA, we do not take any major step lightly.
Whether it is replacing a coach or restructuring parts of our football system, each decision is anchored in a thorough and detailed background process, informed by evidence, expertise and the realities facing the game.
Every action we take is driven by one intention: to get the best possible results for Zimbabwean football.
And wherever we see a need for decisive action, we will continue to make those tough calls, and always with the aim of moving the game forward, never backward.
Off the field, the work continues with the same intensity and commitment.
Our memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is laying the groundwork for a strong junior football system, ensuring that future Warriors are identified, trained and nurtured from an early age under the guidance of our highly experienced technical director.
This week, we also launched the Women’s Football Strategy — a landmark milestone that places the women’s game at the centre of our development agenda.
Under the stewardship of the capable team of Loveness Mukura and Chido Chizondo, supported by our head of technical, Dominique Niyonzima, this strategy strengthens our long-term vision for the women’s game. These programmes form essential pillars in our overall plan, ensuring that our national teams are built not on sand, but on a solid and sustainable foundation.
But the immediate journey before us is AFCON. And for that journey, we need every Zimbabwean to be on board.
We saw it in Qatar. The sea of the Zimbabwean flag, the singing and the dancing. We saw the pride and the belief.
That is who we are. That is what unites us far beyond the 90 minutes.
We call on every organisation, every association and every community to rally behind the flag in the same spirit — each of us contributing from our own space and using our influence to help create a wave of positivity strong enough to carry the Warriors into Morocco with confidence.
This is not the time for division. This is not the time for doubt. This is the time to support. When the Warriors step onto that pitch in December, they will not walk alone. They will carry the hopes, pride and heartbeat of millions.
And when they triumph, their victory will belong to all of us.
On December 22 — our National Unity Day — when they line up against Egypt at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, they will not be fighting for themselves or for ZIFA.
They will be fighting for every football fan who has ever dreamed of a glorious AFCON journey, every supporter who has stood by them through every high and every heartbreak, every time our team has taken to the field.
When we are united in the quest for success and a place in the pages of our national sporting history, the Warriors will find their path easier to travel and their battle lighter.
We are all Warriors.
Nqobile Magwizi is the president of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
