FORMER Warriors captain Dumisani “Commando” Mpofu has weighed in on Zimbabwe’s performance following their group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), currently underway in Morocco.
Zimbabwe returned home with a single point after drawing with Angola and losing 2–1 to Egypt and 3–2 to South Africa. Despite the early exit, Mpofu believes there are positives for the national team to build on.
“The team played very well, although mistakes were made here and there. As a former player, I know mistakes are part of the game. Let’s not persecute those who slipped up,” Mpofu said.
“The team is good; we finally have a foundation to start from. We saw the true capabilities of players such as Jonah Fabisch, Tawanda Maswanhise, Gerald Takwara, Tawanda Chirewa and Munashe Garananga.”
Mpofu also defended head coach Marian “Mario” Marinica, pointing to the limited preparation time available to the technical team.
“Coach Marinica was appointed just a month before the tournament. He and Kaitano Tembo did well under the circumstances. They simply need more time for the team to gel,” he said.
The former man-marking defender urged the technical team to avoid rushed decisions regarding the squad, stressing that continuity is essential for long-term success.
“The future looks very bright. We have a quality midfielder in Jonah Fabisch, who I believe would pair well with players such as Abubakar Moffat. My wish is that we don’t disrupt the team’s progress. We still need veterans, who include Knowledge Musona, to guide the youngsters. The national team is a different level; it isn’t a place for constant experimentation,” he added.
- ‘Zim football chasing its tail’
- I didn’t do justice to Warriors: Benjani
- SRC flagged offside
- SRC endorses Banda appointment as Zifa interim president
Keep Reading
Mpofu also called on Zifa to improve transparency, particularly regarding the unexplained absence of star midfielder Marshall Munetsi.
“Everyone is worried about what happened with Marshall. He is our best player at the moment and his presence was sorely missed, especially against South Africa — a game we could have won. Zifa should not rely on hearsay. While the leadership is new, they must adjust quickly for the betterment of the game,” he said.
The 51-year-old encouraged greater corporate involvement in football, noting that official sponsor Ecobank came on board only weeks before the tournament. He praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s US$400 000 donation as a significant morale booster and urged Zifa to work closely with Sports minister Anselem Sanyatwe.
Looking ahead, Mpofu suggested strengthening the technical bench rather than replacing it.
“If resources permit, we should beef up the bench by including figures such as Norman Mapeza, Peter Ndlovu, Joel Luphahla or Genesis Mangombe. It’s about working for the country,” Mpofu said.
“We need to test ourselves against tough opponents such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon or Algeria, rather than just regional neighbours. That is how this combination of players will truly grow.”
