Zimbabwe captain Nakamba makes plea amid tension

Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba has called for full support for the Warriors amid reports of disagreements with the new coach Mario Marinica.

Reports of a fallout emerged after Zimbabwe’s 3-1 loss to Algeria on Thursday with some players said to be against Marinica’s style of coaching and communication especially on the strong language he uses which some of the stars find insensitive.

The sudden withdrawal from camp of England-based winger Tawanda Chirewa also heightened the reports of the revolt in camp which was already depleted following the unavailability of key players such as Marshall Munetsi and Khama Billiat, who excused themselves from the trip to Saudi Arabia for camp training.

The Zimbabwe Football Association has since dismissed talk of disharmony in camp saying Chirewa has returned to his club Wolverhampton Wanderers FC to be assessed by the new coach.

Now the Warriors’ delegation has relocated to Qatar for the second leg of the camp ahead of Zimbabwe’s return to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in December.

What Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba said

Speaking upon arrival in Qatar for the second friendly scheduled for Monday, Nakamba, who did not feature in the game against Algeria, said the players are trying to adapt to Marinica’s way of doing things.

“The first game against Algeria was for us to see, share and understand,” the Luton FC midfielder said.

“I think for us it is all about trying to implement what the new technical staff are bringing. We are professionals and I think all we have to do is to keep pushing each other, try to give everything for the badge and for the nation.

“Don’t forget, we are preparing for a big tournament using this break, so we urge Zimbabweans to keep supporting us, believing us and pushing us. The results have not been coming but we have been trying and that is why we qualified.”

The game against Algeria was the Romania-born English coach’s first assignment in charge after replacing Michael Nees who lost his job in October after a disastrous FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign.

The former Malawi coach has a big task of leading Zimbabwe at the 2025 AFCON in Group B comprising South Africa, Angola and record winner Egypt.