Marinica softens stance as tension eases in Warriors camp

Tension eases in the Warriors camp after a crisis meeting, with coach Marinica softening his approach as Zimbabwe rebuilds trust ahead of AFCON (image source)

Normalcy has begun to return to the Warriors camp after a week of turmoil, with sources saying head coach Marian Marinica adopted a markedly friendlier demeanour following a crisis meeting with players and separate interventions by ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi. The change of tone came after explosive allegations of verbal abuse and racism that followed Zimbabwe’s 3–1 defeat to Algeria in a friendly in Saudi Arabia, and which culminated in midfielder Tawanda Chirewa abruptly leaving camp and returning to England.

The dispute reportedly escalated in the immediate aftermath of the Algeria match, when players clashed with the new coach over his language and conduct. Team members alleged that Marinica used abusive and vulgar language, made personal attacks and, most seriously, used a racial slur — claims that sparked outrage inside the squad and on social media. ZIFA initially sought to control the narrative by saying Chirewa had been recalled by his club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, a claim players quickly disputed as the relationship between coach and squad frayed.

Players described a pattern of confrontational behaviour that predated the Algeria fixture. Senior figures such as skipper Marvelous Nakamba and defender Devine Lunga were reportedly frozen out after arriving late because of a flight delay, while others say the coach made demeaning remarks about veterans and younger players alike — including alleged taunts directed at Washington Arubi, Emmanuel Jalai and Tawanda Maswanhise. Those accounts, if accurate, helped create a toxic atmosphere that threatened to derail preparations for a tough AFCON group featuring Egypt, South Africa and Angola.

Marinica has defended his methods, arguing that resistance is a natural response to change and that his intent is to overhaul entrenched practices. He told ZIFA in an in-house interview that new ideas often meet pushback and that reforms were necessary to improve results. But sources say the decisive moment came when Magwizi held separate meetings with the coach and the players in Qatar, helping to defuse tensions and restore lines of communication ahead of the team’s second friendly against the hosts.

Players who spoke to this publication described a visible shift in camp dynamics after the interventions. Training sessions in Qatar were reported to be calmer and more constructive, with one player saying the coach “was a completely different person” and that the squad “really enjoyed” the first session there. Marvelous Nakamba urged fans to continue supporting the team, stressing that the Algeria game was a learning exercise and that the squad must be given space to implement the new technical staff’s ideas.

The immediate test of whether the détente holds will be on the pitch as the Warriors use upcoming friendlies to rebuild cohesion and sharpen tactics. For now, the priority inside camp is rebuilding trust, ensuring respectful communication, and converting the calmer atmosphere into improved performances as the AFCON finals approach.