WARRIORS coach Marian Marinica is not taking the Mukuru Four Nations tournament lightly, vowing that his side is playing for nothing less than gold in the invitational tournament.
Zimbabwe marched into the final after a convincing 3-0 thrashing of hosts Botswana at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Saturday.
A clinical performance featuring goals from debutant Mongameli Tshuma, a strike from the burgeoning Bill Antonio, and an own goal ensured the Warriors booked a date with arch-rivals Zambia in a high-stakes “Battle of the Zambezi”.
While invitational tournaments are often dismissed as glorified friendlies, Marinica — whose tenure continues to divide opinion among Warriors supporters — insists the team is treating the competition with utmost seriousness.
Before Saturday’s victory, the Romanian had managed only one win in his first five matches in charge. With a second victory now secured, momentum appears to be shifting.
“We are looking forward to the final,” Marinica said. “As I promised, we came here to win every single match and we will try to do that. Hopefully, on Tuesday we are going to win again and be able to bring home the trophy.”
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The Warriors are determined to avoid a repeat of their previous Four Nations campaign two years ago.
Under former coach Norman Mapeza, the Warriors reached the final, but were beaten 3–1 by Kenya.
The tactical dynamics of Tuesday’s final are unusual.
While Zambia has sent a “B” side as their main squad is currently in South America for a blockbuster friendly match clash against world champions Argentina, Marinica is also working with a depleted deck.
Injuries have sidelined key figures such as Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Knowledge Musona and Jordan Zemura.
However, the coach has courted further controversy by continuing to overlook vice-captain, Marshall Munetsi, and Walter Musona, despite their stellar club performances.
Despite the noise from the terraces, Marinica feels vindicated by the output of his newcomers and experimental selections.
“I believe in the players I select. I keep saying that I select all the players on merit. I believe that on any day, when they are given a chance, they can produce a good performance. Everyone has done fantastically well and congratulations to them,” Marinica added.
As Botswana and Malawi prepare to contest the third-place playoff, attention now turns to the final showdown.
For Marinica, victory would mean more than lifting a trophy — it could also buy him valuable breathing room in the court of public opinion.