African Sports Spotlight

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

BY ENOCK MUCHINJO HARARE – Zimbabwe international Tapiwa Mafura has been released by Lions in South Africa and will head home to join the national team’s early preparations for next year’s World Cup in Australia. A reliable source in Harare told SportsCast on Wednesday that the Sables star fullback has left the Johannesburg franchise at his own request after failing to get game-time for a prolonged period. Mafura was believed to be on his way to Europe or switching team

The following is a verbatim excerpt from a conversation between record-breaking ex-Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga and SportsCast founding Editor Enock Muchinjo following confirmation this week of World Cup-bound Zimbabwe’s curtain-raiser match against South Africa ‘A’ for the Springboks versus Barbarians clash on 20 June in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), South Africa. Tonderai Chavhanga (third from left; front row) as Zimbabwe's assistant coach during the SuperSport