Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in FRANCISTOWN, Botswana
WARRIORS coach Marian “Mario” Marinica said there is enough hunger to succeed amongst his players ahead of their Mukuru 4 Nations final against Zambia at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium this evening.
The match kicks off at 6pm.
Zimbabwe have a chance to lay their hands on a trophy for the first time since 2018 when they won the COSAFA Cup under Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa.
Marinica appears to have installed just the right software into his players and there is an air of optimism ahead of their Mukuru Zambezi derby against Chipolopolo.
Although there was a disciplinary issue involving defender Teenage Hadebe who has since been suspended from taking part in the final, the camp generally remained focused with players in jovial mood during their final training session late yesterday.
Hadebe’s suspension follows hard on the heels of Munashe Garananga’s injury that might as well rule him out of this final.
But newboy Corbin Mthunzi has since joined camp after missing the semi-final win over Botswana on Saturday as his passport was still being sorted.
Marinica though expressed confidence yesterday that his troops would be up to the task against Zambian.
Marinica has seen the Warriors scoring in every game he has taken charge of since his appointment in November last year to replace Michael Nees.
“My philosophy always is to go and to play fast and very fast at the same time to play attacking football no matter, whatever the thing is.
“I’m looking as much as possible to score because basically if you don’t score you don’t win matches,” said Marinica.
“As much as possible, we look to score goals and at the same time we look to pick players that enable us to achieve that.
“I watched Zambia in their first half against Malawi in the semi-final. They are a team with a good structure; they have width and they are very difficult to play against, so to speak.
“We have talked about it with the players and I think we should be able to win.
“But we are expecting a tough challenge from the Zambians. They have the energy and the tactical prowess.
Zimbabwe beat Botswana 3-0 in the semi-finals while Zambia overcame Malawi 9-8 on penalties to set the Battle of Zambezi up and deny Marinica and Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa the chance to play against the teams they once coached.
“I know there is a historical perspective to the Zambezi derby, and it will always feel great to win it,” said Marinica.
“We are certainly in it to win it. We know winning this trophy will leave us in a better place especially psychologically as we move to make gains with more huge competitions coming up.”
Captain Marvelous Nakamba reassured the nation that Zimbabwe will emerge victorious.
“As players, we have always tried to talk about this upcoming final,” said Nakamba.
“We are a team representing millions of our people. No matter the stakes, we have to make our people happy.
“That’s what we are here for. If this tournament didn’t matter, we wouldn’t have been here.
“The mentality in the camp is good and we are here to win this trophy. Of course we are expecting some tough resistance from Zambia but I believe we have more experience than them.”
Without Hadebe and Garananga, Marinica is expected to start Isheanesu Mauchi and Shane Maroodza alongside Gerald Takwara at the back.
Godknows Murwira and Emmanuel Jalai are expected to sit wide in midfield and retreat back when Zimbabwe is under siege while Nakamba and Jonah Fabisch will most certainly retain their places as the defensive shields.
Man of the moment Mongameli Tshuma will play his number 10, while Bill Antonio, star of the semi-final win, might play behind central striker Macauley Bonne.
Zambia coach Oswald Mutapa and his captain Golden Mashata both expressed confidence they would beat the Warriors.
Warriors Probable 11
Elvis Chipezeze, Emmanuel Jalai, Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara, Shane Maroodza, Isheanesu Mauchi, Marvelous Nakamba, Mongameli Tshuma, Jonah Fabisch, Bill Antonio, Macauley Bonne
