The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
LOCAL coaches are set to breathe a sigh of relief as Caf coaching courses that were put on hold early last year are set to resume next month.
The courses were suspended as Caf embarked on an extensive curriculum and content delivery review, Confederation of African Football coaching courses, C, B & A.
Member associations’ technical directors have already been introduced to the new package which was formulated in co-operation with experts from the Union of European Football Associations. Zifa technical director, Wilson Mutekede said the new curriculum is strict on eligibility of participants enrolled for courses.
“The wait is almost over for all coaches who had been made to wait due to Caf’s consultative curriculum review, but it is important for everyone to note that there are also going to be changes in the manner in which we have been conducting the courses.
Caf emphasised on a rigorous selection of course participants and this simply means that not everyone will be eligible to enrol for these courses until and unless they satisfy set conditions.
All applicants should produce coaching files as proof of practice, because we believe that there is no point in further training for coaches who are not practising. Dedicated coaches should make efforts to practise, be it at schools, colleges or academies, what is key is to familiarise with real issues associated with the field,” he said.
According to the Zifa website, apart from technical preconditions for eligibility to partake in Caf courses, interested participants are now obliged to produce a medical clearance to certify their ability to perform physical training. Classes will also be trimmed to a maximum of 25 participants for Caf A and B licences, and not more than 30 for Caf C to ensure quality delivery during courses.
Zimbabwe has three Caf Coaches’ instructors, namely Wilson Mutekede, Tawurayi Mangwiro and Nelson Matongorere.
Caf has also introduced post-training assessment, where coaches are examined as they go through their duties at their places of work.
“Due to the set conditions, participants should now apply for admission to courses. Names of successful course applicants will be published six weeks prior to commencement of every course,” read the article on the Zifa website.
