Marinica targets Mukuru trophy

Zimbabwe senior men's national team coach Marian Marinica says the Warriors are fully focused on winning the Mukuru Four Nations tournament, dismissing any notion that the invitational competition is merely ceremonial.

The Warriors booked their place in the final with a commanding 3-0 victory over hosts Botswana at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from debutant Mongameli Tshuma, an effort by Bill Antonio, and an own goal sealed a dominant performance and set up a final clash with regional rivals Zambia in what is being dubbed the "Battle of the Zambezi."

Despite mixed results since taking charge, Marinica remains confident and insists his side is aiming for nothing less than gold.

"We are looking forward to the final," he said. "As I promised, we came here to win every single match and we will try to do that. Hopefully, on Tuesday we are going to win again and be able to bring home the trophy."

The Romanian coach has faced scrutiny from supporters after managing just one win in his first five matches. However, back-to-back victories in the tournament appear to have eased some pressure.

Zimbabwe will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their previous Four Nations campaign, when they reached the final under former coach Norman Mapeza but lost 3–1 to Kenya.

Tuesday's final presents unique tactical challenges for both sides. Zambia has fielded a "B" team, with their senior squad engaged in an international friendly against world champions Argentina.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, is also dealing with a depleted squad due to injuries to key players such as Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Knowledge Musona and Jordan Zemura.

Marinica has also drawn criticism for leaving out vice-captain Marshall Munetsi and Walter Musona, despite their strong performances at club level.

However, the coach remains steadfast in his selection policy, backing his current squad to deliver.

"I believe in the players I select. I keep saying that I select all the players on merit. I believe that on any day, when they are given a chance, they can produce a good performance. Everyone has done fantastically well and congratulations to them," he said.

As Malawi and Botswana prepare to battle for third place, all eyes will be on the final showdown.

For Marinica, lifting the trophy would not only secure silverware for Zimbabwe but also strengthen his position amid ongoing scrutiny from fans and critics.