Warriors Rediscover Their Fire, Restore Confidence

 knowledge Muneri 

Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba believes the 2-1 win over Qatar has restored trust, calm, and confidence in the squad, which had been plagued by rumors of division in camp. He described it as a confidence and renewed zeal moment, coming just in time before the Africa Cup of Nations.

The build-up to the friendly match had been marred by reports of tension between head coach Marian Marinica and some senior players, allegedly due to disagreements over his approach and comments. However, team insiders said a series of one-on-one conversations between the coach and players helped settle things.

By match day, the shift was evident. The dressing room was lively, with players huddled together before kickoff, and the team's pressing had real purpose. After the win, they joined Zimbabwean fans in the stands, looking like a weight had been lifted.

Mohamed Khaled struck early for Qatar, but Munashe Garananga levelled before the interval. Substitute Bill Antonio then sealed the win with a calm strike in the second half.

The victory marked a significant turnaround after a 3-1 loss to Algeria in Saudi Arabia, which lacked cohesion. In contrast, Monday's response suggested a side starting to gel under Marinica.

Nakamba thanked fans and officials for sticking with the team through the tough times. "A big thank you to all Zimbabweans who rallied behind us... Without you, we feel incomplete," he said.

He also expressed gratitude to football authorities and political groups, including Zifa leadership and the Minister of Tourism, Honourable Barbara Rwodzi, who visited the team in camp.

The win has brought confidence and renewed zeal to the squad, just weeks before the AFCON tournament. Nakamba urged Zimbabweans to continue supporting the team, saying, "This is the moment we need your support the most."