Zimbabwe go into next month’s Unity Cup in London under new management, and their interim head coach Kaitano Tembo has revealed he has no intention of making up the numbers against the Super Eagles, Footynaija.com reports.
Tembo took charge of the Warriors only this week after Romanian coach Marian Marinica resigned citing personal reasons, having gone winless through Zimbabwe’s recent AFCON qualifying campaign and finishing bottom of their group.
The timing of the exit, less than four weeks before the tournament, handed Tembo the job under considerable pressure. He has since been working alongside assistant Takesure Chiragwi and inherits a squad he knows well, having served as assistant to both Marinica and his predecessor Michael Nees.
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The Zimbabwean is no stranger to the game at the highest level. As a player, he was a commanding defender who featured in Zimbabwe’s historic qualification for their first AFCON in 2004. As a coach, he built his reputation at SuperSport United and currently serves as head coach of Sekhukhune United in the South African league.
His familiarity with the Warriors is expected to bring immediate calm to a camp that needed steadying.
The tournament itself has its own history for Zimbabwe. Their semi-final clash against Nigeria at The Valley, home of Sky Bet Championship side Charlton Athletic, on May 26 will be the Warriors’ first ever competitive match on UK soil, a detail Tembo has spoken about with genuine enthusiasm.
‘We believe in our squad’
Speaking to the Zimbabwe Football Association official website, as confirmed by Daily Post, Tembo struck a respectful but determined tone about what faces his side in London.
“Nigeria is a top side with quality players, so we respect them. But at the same time, we believe in our squad. Preparation will be key, organisation, discipline and making sure the players understand their roles. It’s an opportunity for us to compete and showcase our strength,” he said.
He also pointed to the broader value of the fixtures.
“We are approaching it with seriousness and ambition. Playing against strong opposition like Nigeria, as well as Jamaica and India, provides a good test for the team. These are the kind of high-quality matches that help players grow and give us a clear picture of where we are.”
The winner of the Nigeria-Zimbabwe semi-final will face either Jamaica or India in the final on May 30.
