The Zimbabwe Football Association [ZIFA] have appointed Marian ‘Mario’ Marinica as the new head coach of the national team, snubbing Kaitano Tembo, who was tipped to land the job.
The 60-year-old Romanian replaces German coach Michael Nees, who was sacked last month. Marinica joins the Zimbabwe national team on a one-year contract, with his primary focus on the upcoming 2025 AFCON.
Notably, the Warriors are in Group B alongside Bafana Bafana, Angola, and Egypt. With high hopes riding on the team, which ended the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers without a win, Marinica’s task is daunting.
While the members of Marinica’s technical team have not been officially announced, Tembo would be a favourite to be part of the setup. Furthermore, Tembo’s experience with the Warriors and familiarity with the team could be valuable for Marinica.
WHAT THE ZIFA PRESIDENT SAID ON MARINICA’S APPOINTMENT
In a statement released on Tuesday night, ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi expressed confidence in Marinica ahead of the challenging task at AFCON.
“We are delighted to welcome Coach Marinica to Zimbabwe. His wealth of experience, modern football philosophy, and proven results at international level make him the ideal candidate to lead the Warriors into a new era.
“His appointment reflects ZIFA’s commitment to building a competitive and sustainable football structure that delivers results both on and off the pitch,” Magwizi said.
Marinica will debut as The Warriors’ coach with immediate effect and will be put to the test in upcoming friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar. With just 47 days to acclimatise and prepare the team for the upcoming tournament, the pressure is on.
A UEFA Pro License holder, Marinica was the chosen one ahead of a litany of candidates, including former PSL coaches Stuart Baxter and Milutin Sredojević.
In addition, Marinica brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked with high-profile clubs like Arsenal FC, and Fulham as a scout.
Furthermore, he also has experience managing national teams, including Paraguay, Mauritius, Malawi, and Liberia. In 2022, he helped Malawi reach the Round of 16 at the AFCON. With his vast experience, Marinica will hope to turn around Zimbabwe’s football fortunes.
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