Sekhukhune’s Kaitano Tembo appointed Zimbabwe interim head coach

Kaitano Tembo, Zimbabwe assistant coach during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Zimbabwe send off at Cresta Lodge, in Harare Zimbabwe on 16 December 2025 ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix

The Romanian quit after just five months and seven games -including a winless AFCON run that left Zimbabwe bottom of Group B. Sekhukhune coach and Warriors assistant Kaitano Tembo now takes over as interim boss.

A Zimbabwe Football Association statement read: “The Zimbabwe Football Association [ZIFA] announces that Mario Marinica has resigned from his position as head coach of the Zimbabwe senior men’s national team, citing personal reasons.

“ZIFA has accepted his resignation and thanks Coach Marinica for his contribution to the Warriors. The Association wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

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Zimbabwe are next in action at the Unity Cup in May, featuring Nigeria, Jamaica and India.

“Kaitano Tembo has been appointed Interim head coach and will lead the team for the upcoming Unity Cup assignment in the United Kingdom. He will be assisted by Takesure Chiragwi, who has been appointed assistant coach,” continued the statement.