Faith Ndou
ZIFA has appointed little known Marian (Mario) Marinica from Romania as the new Warriors coach. The UEFA Pro license holder coach joins on a one year contract.
Mario replaces Michael Nees who was appointed by the Lincoln Mutasa nomilisation committee in July 2024 and his contract was terminated in a huff in October this year after 14 games, winning two against Namibia, four draws and four loses.
In a statement in possession of The Midweek Watch released by the ZIFA, Marinica brings over 25 years of global coaching experience spanning Africa, Europe, Asia and South America. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Coaching from South Bank University (UK) and a Diploma in Management, reflecting a strong blend of technical and leadership skills.
His résumé boasts stints with elite clubs and national teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Internationally, he has contributed to teams in Paraguay, Mauritius, Malawi, and Liberia.
Notably, Marinica led Malawi to the Round of 16 at the 2022 AFCON their best ever finish and helped Liberia achieve a significant rise in the FIFA rankings in June 2024. He has also served in various technical roles, including technical director and coach educator.
ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi, in a statement said Marinica’s appointment signals a new era for the Warriors.
“His wealth of experience and proven results at international level make him the ideal candidate to lead the Warriors. His appointment reflects ZIFA’s commitment to building a competitive and sustainable football structure.”
Marinica begins his role immediately, taking charge of preparations for upcoming friendlies against Algeria and Qatar as well as the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
