Super Mario goes!

HARARE -  Marian ‘Mario’ Marinica has stepped down as head coach of the Zimbabwe senior men’s national football team, the Warriors, just five months after taking charge.

The 59-year-old Romanian coach’s resignation was confirmed by Zimbabwe Football Association in a statement released on Monday, citing “personal reasons” for his departure.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announces that Marian Marinica has resigned from his position as Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Team, citing personal reasons. ZIFA has accepted his resignation and thanks Coach Marinica for his contribution to the Warriors. The Association wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

Short but eventful tenure

Marinica, who signed a one-year contract with ZIFA in November, oversaw seven matches during his brief stint. His tenure began with international friendlies against Algeria and Qatar as part of preparations for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. However, his time in charge was marked by reported fallouts with key players, including France-based midfielder Marshall Munetsi and forward Tawanda Maswanhise.

Warriors turn to Tembo as interim coach

Following Marinica’s exit, ZIFA has moved swiftly to appoint Kaitano Tembo as interim head coach.

Tembo will lead the Warriors at the upcoming Unity Cup in the United Kingdom during the next FIFA international window. He will be assisted by Takesure Chiragwi, who returns to the national team setup from CAPS United.

Despite the short tenure, Marinica exits on a high note. His final assignment came in March at a four-nation tournament in Botswana, where Zimbabwe lifted the trophy after defeating Zambia in the final.

His departure comes as Zimbabwe were preparing for the Unity Cup in England, leaving the Warriors in transition ahead of a crucial period on the international calendar. – ZimSport Live