ZIFA Moves To Quell Camp Tension Reports After Chirewa’s Early Departure

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has stepped in to clarify the circumstances surrounding midfielder Tawanda Chirewa’s abrupt departure from the Warriors camp, following a wave of unconfirmed reports alleging internal tensions and player unrest.

Chirewa, who featured in Thursday’s 3–1 defeat to Algeria and scored Zimbabwe’s lone goal after coming on as a half-time substitute, left the camp less than a day after his appearance. His sudden exit sparked speculation after a separate story began circulating claiming both Chirewa and fellow midfielder Tawanda Maswanhise were considering walking out of camp due to an alleged altercation with new Warriors coach Marian “Mario” Marinica.

Sources linked to the team had alleged rising friction, including claims that the Romanian coach used strong language and expletives during meetings and warm-ups, behaviour said to have unsettled some players and technical staff members.

But in a detailed statement issued on Friday, ZIFA dismissed any suggestion that Chirewa’s departure was linked to internal disputes. Instead, the association said the player’s early return to England was part of a pre-arranged agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had requested that the youngster be available for only one international fixture due to changes in their technical setup.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to inform the nation, the media fraternity, and all stakeholders that midfielder Tawanda Chirewa has been granted permission to leave the national team camp, as had been agreed prior to the player joining the camp,” reads part of the statement.

ZIFA stressed that the move had the “full blessing” of both parties and was made to allow Wolves’ new technical team to assess the player as they prepare for the upcoming season. The association insisted the arrangement was neither a withdrawal nor a fallout, but a “professional and mutually respectful alignment” prioritising the player’s development.

Wolves midfielder Marshall Munetsi was also released from the squad under similar circumstances, in what ZIFA says reflects ongoing cooperation with clubs monitoring their players during the off-season.

However, the claims of tension in camp, though unconfirmed, continue to hover over the Warriors setup, with neither ZIFA nor Marinica’s technical team publicly addressing the allegations of strong language or a possible standoff involving senior players.

For now, ZIFA’s clarification seeks to steady the ship amid growing scrutiny of Marinica’s early days in charge. The situation remains fluid, and further communication from the association or the coaching staff is expected as the Warriors prepare for their next friendly against Qatar.

This is a developing story.