Unity Cup: Munetsi earns Zimbabwe recall to begin post-Marinica era

In a clear departure from the stance of his former boss Mario Marinica, Zimbabwe national team interim coach Kaitano Tembo has recalled maligned midfielder Marshall Munetsi for the upcoming Unity Cup to be played in London.

Tembo has recalled the Wolverhampton Wanderers star in the 23-member squad alongside Greece-based forward Tino Kadewere (Aris Thessaloniki FC), and winger Tawanda Chirewa (Barnsley FC, England), who, too, had issues with the previous national team selectors.

Zimbabwe’s Unity Cup squad

 

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The caretaker coach’s decision effectively shows he was not on the same page with his former boss’ stance on squad selection. The reign of Marinica started off with reports of a fallout with Chirewa last year and the former Wolves winger is also back after his absence from the recent Mukuru Four Nations Tournament in Botswana.

The interim coach’s selection gives a hint of why the former Malawi and Liberia trainer quit abruptly when he was on track to revive Zimbabwe’s fortunes, including winning the trophy in Botswana in March.

Munetsi, on loan at Paris FC where he has enjoyed success during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, fell out with Marinica after being excluded from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad following his injury with Wolves, a decision Munetsi felt was no longer about football.

No Musona brothers and Khama Billiat

However, Tembo has still left out Zimbabwean top flight leading scorer Khama Billiat, his Scottland FC teammates Knowledge and Walter Musona and Marumo Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Billiat and Knowledge picked up knocks last week.

There is also no place in the Warriors squad for America-based defender Teenage Hadebe, who hit headlines for wrong reasons after he broke camp rules during the recent Mukuru tournament in Botswana. He apologised for the incident, which Marinica described as water under the bridge.

Tembo has elected to summon Ipswich Town FC defender Colbin Mthunzi with the other new face for the upcoming tournament being Brentford FC reserve team goalkeeper Marley Tavaziwa.

Other notable absentees are striker Macauley Bonne (Billericay Town FC) and fellow England-based midfielder Andrew Rinomhota of Reading FC.

The Warriors’ squad is expected to regroup soon ahead of their participation in the Unity Cup, starting off with a semifinal meeting with Nigeria at The Valley, Charlton, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

The second semi-final between India and Jamaica scheduled for Wednesday, 27 May 2027.

Unity Cup Fixtures

Semifinal 1

Tuesday, 26 May 2026

Time: 7:30pm (GMT)

Venue: The Valley, Charlton

Semifinal 2

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Jamaica v India

Time: 2:30pm

Venue: The Valley, Charlton

Final

Saturday 30 May 2026

Time: 2:30pm

Venue: The Valley, Charlton