Zimbabwe’s football fairytale has taken a sour turn. Barely a week into his tenure, the Warriors’ new coach, Marian Marinica, is already on thin ice, with players clamouring for ZIFA to pull the plug.
The Romanian’s blunt tongue and a string of off‑colour remarks have sparked a full‑blown mutiny, leaving the squad questioning whether his conduct fits the sport’s code of respect.
The Warriors of Zimbabwe are currently in Saudi Arabia for international friendlies. On Thursday, they suffered a 3-1 loss to Algeria, and that is when the pandemonium began.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one player confirmed to FARPost that the 60-year-old coach had been verbally abusive toward several members of the squad following the defeat.
“It’s not just the harsh words—it’s the constant belittling, and I won’t stay silent while he insults us in front of the whole squad”, one player told FARPost.
Goalkeeper Washington Arubi, Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Tawanda Chirewa, Tawanda Maswanhise and Dynamos captain Emmanuel Jalai were the main targets of the coach’s ranting.
Furthermore, Marinica is said to have described Scottland-based Maswanhise’s performance as playing ‘like a granny.’
TAWANDA CHIREWA LEAVES THE WARRIORS CAMP IN SAUDI ARABIA
In addition, he allegedly admonished Arubi, at 40, for not behaving in line with his age. Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers star Tawanda Chirewa has already left the camp, with ZIFA saying he was called back by his club in a desperate attempt to dampen the rumours of the mutiny.
“This decision was reached with the full blessing and consent of ZIFA, after Wolverhampton Wanderers formally requested an opportunity for the player to be assessed by their new technical team as part of their internal preparations for the season ahead,” ZIFA said in a statement released on Friday.
“ZIFA emphasises that this development is not a withdrawal, nor does it reflect any dispute or disagreement. Instead, it represents a professional and mutually respectful alignment between the national association and the player’s parent club, an alignment that prioritises the athlete’s long‑term development while safeguarding Zimbabwe’s national football interests.”
As it stands, players are unhappy and are unwilling to be led by the former Malawi mentor to the 2025 AFCON. Simply put, ZIFA faces a crucial decision to resolve the discord, with a few weeks remaining before AFCON kicks off.
Meanwhile, former Kaizer Chiefs duo of Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona did not travel with the squad to Saudi Arabia. The same applies to former Orlando Pirates midfielder Marshall Munetsi, who is plying his trade for Wolves in England.
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