Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub

AT the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a Romania-inclined journalist always popped up in the Warriors’ post-match pressers.

He would ask questions in both English and Romanian before tagging Zimbabwe coach Marian “Mario” Marinica when going out of the auditorium.

While choosing to remain anonymous, he revealed that he was particularly following Marinica’s progress as “a highly-regarded football technocrat in his home country”, not least, given his remarkable achievements and intact track record as a performance analyst.

It’s apparent that every step that the Warriors gaffer takes is bookmarked in Romania with keen interest.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t shepherd Zimbabwe beyond the group stage after losing two games to Egypt (2-1) and South Africa (3-2) while drawing once against Angola (1-1) in Group B.

While the Warriors didn’t make a mark, they did left a lasting impression with one of their rising stars Tawanda Maswanhise being named as one of the three most promising young players of the 24-team tournament.

Such was Maswanhise’s deep contribution that he still made it into that exclusive class even after playing just one full match against South Africa in which he scored a brilliant individual goal and forced an own goal from Bafana Bafana defender Aubrey Modiba.

That he had been given a limited role as a late substitute in the defeat against Egypt and never got a run against Angola didn’t stop him from shining.

But a flurry of criticism followed with fans suggesting Marinica could have given the 23-year-old more game time in Morocco.

And consistent with a coach whose steps are being documented, one by one, back in his home country, Marinica has taken it all in his stride.

He knows criticism, no matter how scathing it can be, is inescapable in the line of duty.

He didn’t bench Maswanhise for the sake of benching him. He had a template he was using, for someone who was barely two weeks into his new job. And on Saturday he pitched up in Scotland where he witnessed first-hand as Maswanhise scored his 11th league goal in the Scottish top-flight season to help his club Motherwell to a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

It was Marinica’s first stop in his diaspora sojourn, where he is assessing both regular and potential players who can make it into the Zimbabwe national team.

He was mesmerised with how Maswanhise has attained cult heroism not only in Scotland but across the United Kingdom.

The silky winger has been on the score-sheet in every game he has played since returning from the AFCON.

As much as he is now the joint top scorer in the league alongside Lawrence Shankland, Maswanhise has also scored four goals in cup tournaments, bringing his tally to 16 in all competitions this season. Motherwell are well on their way to finishing the first phase of the Scottish Premiership in the top six, thanks to the Zimbabwean winger’s immense contribution, and Maswanhise will be expected to continue being the X-factor as Motherwell chase after Champions League football next season.

“I am happy with how Maswanhise is playing,” Marinica said.

“He is always a fantastic player with a lot of focus. I am having a seven-day trip in Europe, where I have to meet as many players as possible. “I decided to start in Scotland where I met with Tawanda Maswanhise and we had a fruitful discussion.

“I will continue on that trajectory, meeting players, their coaches and parents.

“It’s like a scouting mission where I will meet a number of young players and their parents and map the way forward for them, and their coaches will constantly give me technical feedback as we want to play well as the Warriors going forward.

“I will be in England and then Italy in the coming days. When I return home, I will also be in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and all the other places for the same mission.

“This is the position we have taken and everything is looking well. We want to do well in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers and the finals.

“We are also doing all this with an eye on the 2030 World Cup. Really happy with the kind of work the association is undertaking.”

Maswanhise is equally happy with the work he is putting in and ZIFA’s initiative.

“I am obviously happy with my form,” said Maswanhise.

 “I hope to continue on this path, scoring and assisting goals.” With the flying form he is in, Maswanhise is already attracting interest from across the world. He is a Leicester City product and the English Championship club is understood to be considering re-signing him.

There are also reported interest from Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers.