Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Warriors head coach Marian Marinica has told vice-captain Marshall Munetsi that he remains open to calling him up should the team progress beyond the group stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Munetsi was left out of Marinica’s initial 28-man squad due to injury.
The Warriors begin their campaign against Egypt in Agadir on 22 December, before facing Angola and South Africa in Group B later in the month.
Munetsi, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League, insists he is now fully fit and has suggested there may have been a conspiracy behind his omission.
In an email to Marinica, shared with the media, the midfielder detailed the personal sacrifices he made while featuring in two of Zimbabwe’s qualifying matches. Wrote Munetsi:
“I played the first two games of the qualifiers versus Kenya and Cameroon whilst my wife was in hospital after having a miscarriage, and she trusted me enough to stay there and make my country proud.
“We did that and qualified for AFCON, and taking that away from me and her is something that I can’t even put into words.”
The Warriors’ technical team left 29-year-old Munetsi out after Wolverhampton Wanderers coach Rob Edwards said that he would be sidelined for at least six weeks following his absence in Monday’s match against Manchester United.
Munetsi is concerned that this could be his final opportunity to feature at the AFCON finals. He wrote:
“My club didn’t say I can’t play in the group stages; they just said the first game would be a risk, and I have done everything you asked in reference to the request you made.
“I just don’t think this is about football anymore because if I were really needed and important to the team, then your message would be different.
“It’s time for me to move on from this chapter.”
Munetsi insisted that his injury was minor and that he was not experiencing any pain, saying the club was simply being cautious.
He added that ZIFA has a doctor who can still assess him, which is allowed by FIFA in such cases. Added Munetsi:
“I think the communication is fair from the club outlining their thoughts in medical terms and also saying that they cannot guarantee that I will be fit in medical terms, but they are willing to support me clinically as safely as possible.”
Marinica responded by saying he would be open to recalling Munetsi if Zimbabwe advances beyond the group stages. Wrote Marinica:
“We had correspondence from your club. Unfortunately, you were declared unfit to be playing in the group stage matches.
“Therefore, I have not included (you) in the 28 players squad. However, if your recovery is going well, I will be looking to include you after the group stages.
“Sorry to give you the bad news, especially that I truly understand what AFCON means to you.”
Warriors fan Freeman Chari suggested that Munetsi was dropped because he had criticised the team manager over the alleged theft of Tawanda Maswanhise’s passport, and also because he was not currying favour with the “gatekeepers”.
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