The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has named Romanian coach

Marian “Mario” Marinica as the new head coach of the senior men’s national team, the Warriors, on a one-year deal.

In a statement released on Monday, ZIFA described Marinica as an experienced UEFA Pro License holder with more than 25 years of international coaching experience across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America.

Marinica holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Coaching from South Bank University in London and a Diploma in Management. Over the years, he has collaborated with several prominent clubs and national teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the national sides of Paraguay, Mauritius, Malawi, and Liberia.

Among his career highlights are leading Malawi to their first-ever Round of 16 appearance at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and helping Liberia achieve the biggest rise in FIFA’s world rankings in June 2024.

ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi hailed the appointment as the start of a new chapter for Zimbabwean football.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Marinica to Zimbabwe,” said Magwizi. “His vast experience, modern tactical approach, and record of success at international level make him the perfect fit for the Warriors. This appointment underlines ZIFA’s vision to create a strong and sustainable football system that delivers consistent results.”

Beyond coaching, Marinica has also served as a Technical Director, Coach Educator, and Performance Consultant, specializing in player development, performance analysis, and grassroots football. His commitment to blending local and diaspora talent aligns closely with ZIFA’s long-term strategic goals.

Marinica will begin his duties immediately, overseeing preparations for Zimbabwe’s friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar and the AFCON 2025 qualification campaign.

Zimbabwe football legend Peter Ndlovu has congratulated Scottland FC for clinching the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title and booking their place in next season’s CAF Champions League.

The team, affectionately known as Mabviravira, sealed the championship in dominant fashion after thrashing Kwekwe United 5-1 to move to 65 points, seven clear at the top with two matches remaining.

Scottland’s triumph marks a historic milestone as they become only the second club since Independence to win the top flight league in their debut season, following in the footsteps of Black Rhinos’ famous 1985 success.

Posting on X, Ndlovu hailed the club’s remarkable journey and applauded everyone involved in their fairytale campaign.

“Congratulations to Scottland Football Club, the President, Management, Coach, technical team, players, backroom staff and supporters for winning the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Championship,” wrote Ndlovu.

“The club has shown bravery, sacrifice and resilience throughout the season. With their resources, quality players and support, the job still had to be done on the pitch and full credit goes to the coach and players for making it happen. The team has raised the bar and set a new benchmark for professionalism in Zimbabwean football,” he added.

Ndlovu also encouraged the champions to carry their impressive form into continental competition as they prepare to represent Zimbabwe in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.

“Cometh the test to invade and conquer the African Safari (CAF) and beyond. It’s possible,” he said.

With history already made, Mabviravira will now turn their attention to the African stage, where they aim to make an impact among the continent’s elite.

Kelvin “Pastor KK” Kaindu, the man steering the revival of Dynamos, has once again shown that his leadership is as much about belief as it is about ball possession. After guiding the Glamour Boys to a crucial 1-0 victory over Bikita Minerals at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday, the soft spoken Zambian mentor made one thing clear Dynamos will fight their way out of danger through hard work, not by waiting for miracles elsewhere.

For a team that, just a few weeks ago, seemed destined for disaster, the transformation under Kaindu has been remarkable. When he arrived, DeMbare were drowning, second from bottom, eight points adrift of safety, and their confidence shattered. But now, after nine matches unbeaten, including six wins and three draws, the blue half of Harare is breathing again.

Sunday’s narrow but priceless victory saw Dynamos leap from 17th to 13th on 37 points, giving their survival hopes a massive boost with just two matches left in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season. One more win could be all they need to secure their top flight status.

Despite being hailed as the man behind the turnaround, Kaindu refused to take all the credit. True to his pastoral humility and growing maturity as a coach, he acknowledged the foundation laid by previous coaches Genesis Mangombe (popularly known as Mablanyo) and Lloyd “Sauro” Chigowe who had worked under difficult circumstances.

“I give credit to the other coaches. They probably came at a very difficult time, and results were not coming,” Kaindu said. “There isn’t much that we have changed. We’ve kept almost the same team that was playing. Recognising their effort, even when things were tough, is something I think a mature coach should do.”

Yet, beneath that modesty lies the quiet revolution he’s brought, a change not of personnel, but of mindset.

“Maybe the only thing that has changed is the language, and giving confidence to the players. Dynamos is a big brand; we shouldn’t be fighting relegation. We’ve told ourselves that survival is not the finish line, we want to win,” he said with conviction.

Under Kaindu, DeMbare have rediscovered their identity, disciplined, resilient, and driven by faith. The coach’s dual calling as a pastor and tactician seems to have struck a chord with his players, who now play with both purpose and belief.

He has banned the use of “calculators” in the dressing room, a symbolic move to remind his squad that their destiny lies in their own boots, not in the results of others.

“We said we are not going to use calculators to avoid relegation. We want to win our games and that’s what we have done. Hopefully, we maintain our unbeaten run,” he said.

Kaindu admitted the tension was sky-high before the Bikita clash, given Dynamos’ precarious position, but praised his players’ fighting spirit and mental strength.

“It wasn’t a beautiful game, but the important thing is that we got the three points. Sometimes you just have to grind out results, especially when you’re fighting for your life,” he said.

With two matches left, Kaindu has urged his team to keep their focus and finish strong, warning against complacency.

“We don’t want to depend on phone calls to know how other teams have played. We want to stay consistent and keep believing. If we remain unbeaten, it will be a big boost to our confidence going into next season,” he added.

Next up, Dynamos face Yadah FC, another side battling for survival at Ngoni Stadium on Saturday. It will be a defining fixture, not just for points, but for pride and redemption.

For a team that once flirted with the unthinkable, relegation, faith, fight, and maturity have become their new mantra. And at the heart of it all stands Pastor Kaindu, preaching a gospel of hard work, unity, and self belief, a message his resurgent squad has clearly taken to heart.