Veteran journalist Robson Sharuko has slammed Zimbabwe Warriors coach Marian Marinica for leaving Tawanda Maswanhise out of the first two group games at the 2025 AFCON finals, calling the decision not backed by science and bordering on “witchcraft.”
The Warriors returned to Harare on Wednesday, two days after being knocked out of the tournament, finishing bottom of Group B with just one point.
Sharuko argued that Maswanhise, who turned 23 last month, should have been one of the first names on Marinica’s team sheet, given his red-hot form for Motherwell.
At a pre-match press conference on Sunday, 28 December 2025, Marinica defended his decision, saying it was based on scientific data.
Sharuko, however, raised serious questions about why the forward was omitted against both Egypt and Angola. He wrote:
“Why did Mario keep him on the bench in the first two games against Egypt and Angola?
“Which science, which now looks like witchcraft, was the Romanian using which told him that players like Washington Navaya and Ishmael Wadi were better than Maswanhise?
“Why didn’t Mario throw Maswanhise in, when Knowledge Musona was injured in the game against Angola, instead of Wadi, and give him the 32 minutes which the CAPS United forward was granted?
“How can a player, who is one of the best forwards in the Scottish Premiership, a far better league than the domestic Premiership, be left on the bench while the local boys get Mario’s confidence not only to start but also to come in as substitutes?
“How can a footballer, who has played for former English champions Leicester City, be deemed to be inferior to one who is playing for TelOne in the domestic Premiership?”
Marinica eventually started the Motherwell winger in the final Group B match against South Africa on Monday, December 29, 2025.
Maswanhise scored a spectacular equalising goal in the 19th minute, which is being called a contender for “Goal of the Tournament.”
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