As the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) finalises preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the senior men’s national team, the Warriors, finds itself at a critical phase after the appointment of a new coach was received with mixed feelings.
The appointment of Romanian tactician, Marian Marinica, as the new head coach last week, following the dismissal of Michael Nees, has ignited a complex mix of hope and doubt across the nation’s football community.
The appointment was further debated over the weekend.
First, by an open letter from former player Gabriel Nyoni, and second, by a note of caution from one of Zimbabwe’s most decorated footballers, Mkhokheli Dube.
In his letter addressed to Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi and the administration, Nyoni appealed not as a critic, but as “a son of the game,” urging the football body to seize the moment and rewrite Zimbabwean football’s often chaotic history.
Magwizi and his new administration assumed office late last year.
“Mr Magwizi, as you and your team lead our football into the upcoming Afcon, you carry the hopes of a nation that has long yearned for order, integrity, and excellence,” Nyoni wrote.
“History has not been kind to us in moments like these, where chaos, mistrust, and disorganisation have often eclipsed our potential.”
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Zimbabwe’s footballing issues seem to stem from administrative problems.
Nyoni’s message was a call for transparency and support, emphasising that the players’ only burden should be performance, not “uncertainty, not of unpaid dues, not of discontent.”
He called on fans, bloggers, and the entire football family to unite behind the team.
“This Afcon is more than a competition. It is a chance to heal our football, to restore national pride.”
However, this wave of optimism should be measured against the practical concerns regarding the timing of the coaching change.
With Afcon kicking off in Morocco in just a few weeks, the new coach has precious little time to imprint his philosophy on the team.
Echoing this sentiment, former Warriors striker and Zimbabwe football legend Dube expressed his reservations.
“The timing for the appointment of the new Warriors coach may be worrisome since Afcon is 46 days away, I think,” Dube commented.
“It will be difficult for the coach to implement his strategies and build the necessary cohesion with the players in such a short period of time. Right now it boils down to luck.
“Does he have the luck to stitch good results?
“I’m hoping that the upcoming friendly matches will help him assess the boys and what he has at his disposal.”
Marinica, a Uefa Pro licensed coach with vast experience across Africa, faces a monumental task.
His immediate assignment is to navigate high-profile friendlies against Algeria and Qatar this week, followed by a 10-day training camp announced by Zifa.
Magwizi defended the choice of Algeria as a preparatory opponent.
“It was very deliberate, knowing that in the Afcon we will be playing Egypt, and the style of play between Egypt and Algeria is almost the same.”
Zimbabwe will face Algeria, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday before they play Qatar on Monday at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 pm CAT.
