ZIMBABWE’S newly-appointed head coach, Marian Marinica, has expressed excitement and satisfaction after conducting his first training session with the Warriors on Monday.
The session, held at the King Abdul Aziz Sporting Arena in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, marks the start of preparations for tomorrow's crucial international friendly against Algeria.
Marinica, who is working alongside assistant Kaitano Tembo, is tasked with assembling a formidable squad aiming to make history by navigating past the group stages at the upcoming Afcon finals — a feat never achieved by the Warriors.
Speaking after the opening session, the coach wasted no time in highlighting the immediate positive impression the players left on him.
“I am grateful to be chosen to lead the Zimbabwe national team in this challenging period, which we will look to try to qualify past the Afcon group stages,” Marinica said.
“It’s not easy, but I saw today, for example, a lot of quality.”
He added: “So I think overall, I could say, you know, that I’m very pleased with the players’ response, with the staff response and also with the officials coming here and trying to assist us with everything possible.”
The Warriors face a daunting task in Group B at Afcon, where they will take on continental giants Egypt, alongside rivals South Africa and Angola.
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“We have tough opponents in Egypt, which we actually now try to play Algeria to see how he’s going there. Then we also have Angola, a very good team and not to say, you know, South Africa, an extremely good team, a rival opponent and we need to go there to get the required points,” he noted.
Marinica’s immediate focus is on instilling a winning mentality, emphasising passion and addressing past attacking shortcomings.
“Number one, we want to see the positive response from the players to put their hands up and to say that actually it’s a big honour for them to play for the Zimbabwe national team,” he said.
Marinica also pinpointed technical areas requiring immediate improvement.
“... we’d be looking to try to see some of the areas that in the past may not have been right, that are, creating scoring opportunities, taking good shots, hitting the target dangerously, and, as much as possible, scoring goals.”
The new mentor is demanding maximum effort from his charges.
“We look as much as possible from these players, everyone, to put a lot of energy into the match because they will have to show that they really want to win the matches.”
The squad currently boasts a mixture of experience and exciting youth, with captain Marvelous Nakamba available to lead the team.
However, the camp is without veterans like Khama Billiat (personal reasons), Marshall Munetsi (reportedly kept by Wolves) and the injured Knowledge Musona.
Andy Rinomhota is also absent as he searches for a new club.
Their absence provides a golden opportunity for emerging talents such as Prosper Padera, Sean Fusire, Tivonge Rushesha, Tawanda Maswanhise and Tawanda Chirewa to stake a claim for more national team minutes.
Looking ahead to the challenges, Marinica remains realistic but determined.
“In terms of playing quality, it’s not easy overnight to try to get something to build, but we’d be looking as much as possible to be tight at the back and to look to be dangerous up front.”
The friendly match against Algeria serves as a crucial measuring stick before the team heads to the Afcon finals, which run from December 21 to January 18.
After the tie against Algeria, Zimbabwe will face Qatar at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
