Marinica softens stance

Tensions in the Zimbabwe national football team camp have eased as coach Marian Marinica appears to have abandoned his previously confrontational and heavy-handed approach, adopting a more respectful and player-friendly demeanor.

The Romanian coach had come under intense scrutiny following reports of abusive language and allegations of racism during the Warriors' training camp in the Middle East ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals. The situation worsened after Zimbabwe's 3-1 friendly defeat to Algeria in Saudi Arabia, which was reportedly overshadowed by clashes between Marinica and his players.

Sources say the strained environment prompted striker Tawanda Chirewa, who scored Zimbabwe's consolation goal, to abruptly return to England, claiming he could no longer tolerate the atmosphere. Attempts by Zifa to suggest Chirewa was recalled by his club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, were dismissed by players, highlighting a significant breakdown of trust.

According to insiders, the turning point came after a crisis meeting on Friday evening involving Marinica and his players, with Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi playing a key mediating role. Separate discussions with the coach and the squad reportedly helped defuse the tension, allowing the team to refocus ahead of their second friendly match in Qatar.

Players confirmed a marked change in the coach's attitude since arriving in Qatar on Saturday. "The tension has eased. We had our first training session here on Saturday evening, and we really enjoyed it," one player said. "The coach was a completely different person from the one we first met some days ago. He was full of respect for the players. That is all we had been asking for."

The controversy stemmed from Marinica's confrontational style, which became apparent even before the Algeria match. Skipper Marvelous Nakamba and defender Devine Lunga were initially frozen out of the squad over a minor flight delay, while other players reportedly faced personal verbal attacks. Goalkeeper Washington Arubi was told his behaviour "didn't match his 40 years," right-back Emmanuel Jalai was labelled a "dwarf," and Scotland-based Tawanda Maswanhise was dismissed as playing "like a granny." Players also cited alleged racist language, including the use of the word "monkey."

This is not Marinica's first controversy; reports indicate similar issues arose during his stints in Malawi and Tanzania, with accusations of abusive language and racism. When questioned about the unrest, Marinica defended his methods, suggesting that resistance to change was inevitable. "With new ideas, there is always resistance to change," he said. "But those things that were done before need to be changed, otherwise I wouldn't be here if those things were good."

Meanwhile, Nakamba urged public support for the Warriors as the team prepares for their Afcon campaign. "We urge Zimbabweans to keep supporting us, believing in us and pushing us. The results have not been coming, but we have been trying, and that is why we qualified," he said.

Marinica took charge following the departure of Michael Nees in October, with the Algeria match marking his first assignment in charge of the national team.