The Sunday News
Raymond Jaravaza, Sports Correspondent
ZIFA technical director Taurai Mangwiro is now a fully fledged coaches instructor in Africa after successfully completing a Caf Elite Instructors course in Cameroon last month.
Previously Mangwiro was a regional instructor operating in Southern Africa only but can now cover the whole of Africa conducting coaching courses. He joins another Zimbabwean veteran coach Nelson Matongorere who is also a Caf Elite Instructor. Mangwiro was recently in Bulawayo together with Matongorere as well as former Zifa high performance committee member Gibson Homela conducting an 18-day Caf B course at the YWCA Centre.
He told Sunday News Sport that he had to travel to Yaoundé — the base for the Confederation of African Football Centre of Excellence — for caf Elite Instructors course.
“I had to take a short break from the Caf B course in Bulawayo to travel to Cameroon for the Caf Elite Instructors course from 24 to 29 November. I’m able to conduct coaching courses across Africa but obviously in countries where the language barrier will not be a hindrance. Caf is embarking on a major standardisation programme to continually upgrade the training of coaches in Africa and I’m happy Zimbabwean coaches and instructors are not being left behind,” said Mangwiro.
The former Harare City FC coach was appointed the Zimbabwe Football Association technical director in September.
His duties include steering grassroots football and coaches’ development forward through various educational programmes facilitated by Zifa, Caf and Fifa.
When the former school teacher took over the position of technical director he recommended that local coaches must ensure that they practise for at least a year after attaining a coaching qualification before proceeding to the next level.
He also ensured that all coaches are certified by the association and that no other establishment is allowed to issue or organise football coaching courses.
Meanwhile, 16 coaches completed a Caf B course that ended at the YWCA Centre in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Among the participants were Bulawayo City FC interim head coach Try Ncube, relegated Premier Soccer League side Mutare City Rovers gaffer Taku Shariwa as well as Premiership title winning Caps United goalkeepers coach Zwanayi Kawadza.
Zifa Southern Region title runners up Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda, Amagagasi coach Zibonele Ncube together with ZPC Hwange coach Njabulo Dube were also in attendance.
Warriors legend Agent Sawu, now junior coach with the Bantu Rovers Under-16 team and former Zimbabwe international striker Gilbert Mushangazhike took part in the coaching course.
— @RaymondJaravaza
