NEW Warriors head coach Marian Marinica, affectionately known as “Super Mario”, is looking to inject a potent dose of attacking football into the Zimbabwean national team when he takes charge of his first match against continental giants Algeria this evening.
The international friendly, a crucial preparation tie for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals, kicks off at 6pm (CAT) at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Romanian tactician, appointed just last week following the sacking of German mentor Michael Nees after a worrying string of poor results, has been tasked with rebuilding the Warriors’ confidence and, critically, fixing their recent woes in front of goal.
In his maiden Press conference, Marinica set the tone for his tenure with a statement of intent: “We need not to be frightened. We need to frighten teams,” he declared.
He further stressed the need for a mentality shift, urging his charges to believe in themselves more, to be more positive, and to attack.
The statistics behind the new coach’s attacking focus are stark.
“If you look at the last 10 matches, I think we scored only five goals in 10 matches. And obviously, the last four matches, not to score a goal is a major, major concern,” Marinica admitted.
His solution involves a blend of pace, tactical intelligence and a psychological overhaul.
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He aims to increase the number of chances and get the players into more dangerous areas sooner.
“I do see that, and that has not to be confused or misinterpreted as booting the ball... It’s like, yes, there are times and places you have to go extremely direct, route one, as they call it, but on the other hand, playing fast and very fast,” he explained.
This, he says, requires players to think ahead like in a chess game, where the next move is made after ensuring they choose the right technique for passing, shooting or dribbling.
While the Warriors will miss the services of key players like vice-captain Marshall Munetsi — who remained with his club at their request — as well as Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Andy Rinomhota and Tymon Machope, Marinica has an exciting crop of talent to work with.
The team will be driven by the presence of players like Udinese’s Jordan Zemura, Denmark-based Munashe Garan’anga, Sheffield Wednesday’s Sean Fusire, captain Marvelous Nakamba of Luton Town, veteran defender Teenage Hadebe, and the exciting United Kingdom-based duo of Tawanda Maswanhise and Tawanda Chirewa.
On the opposite bench, Algeria, who are also preparing for Afcon, will be grappling with their own challenges, with a lengthy injury list that includes goalkeeper Luca Zidane and defender Mohamed Amine Tougaï.
Absences for Ramy Bensebaïni, Farès Chaïbi, and Amine Gouiri have further complicated coach Vladimir Petkovic’s plans, giving the new-look Warriors a fighting chance.
For Marinica, this match is the first practical lesson in his new philosophy before the team heads to the Afcon finals, where they are grouped with Egypt, South Africa and Angola.
As the Warriors step onto the field tonight, focus will not just be on the result, but on the birth of a new, aggressive, and fast-paced style of play under Super Mario.
Will the Warriors’ new attacking approach be enough to secure a positive result against the Desert Foxes?
