Top Malawian physio joins Zimbabwe coaching panel

Highly-rated Malawian physiotherapist Chikondi Mandalasi has joined the Zimbabwe football team’s coaching panel, reuniting with his former boss Mario Marinica.

A statement from the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) confirms the hiring of Mandalasi as strength and conditioning coach for the Warriors under the Romanian.

ZIFA appointed Marinica on November 4, 2025, to take charge of the Warriors, the first assignment being at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco in December.

Composition of Mario Marinica’s coaching panel

The former Black Leopards mentor has retained some members of the coaching panel of his predecessor Michael Nees, including assistant coach Kaitano Tembo and goalkeeper coach Pernel McKop, who also works for Stellenbosch FC in a similar capacity.

The panel includes South African performance analyst Ronald Moroka who worked with Marinica in Liberia.

Marinica first worked with Mandalasi while in charge of the Flames between 2022 and 2023, including at the delayed 2021 AFCON finals in Cameroon.

When Marinica left Malawi in 2023, he eventually hired Mandalasi to work with him at Liberian national team in a similar capacity.

That bond continues with the Romanian hiring the Malawian again for the Zimbabwe gig after both secured a one-year contract.

Marinica will lead Zimbabwe to Saudi Arabia for friendlies against Qatar and Algeria later in November. The actual dates of the warm up matches are yet to be announced.

It means Mandalasi will now grace his second AFCON finals even though the Flames failed to qualify for the continental event.