Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) administrator Manuel Mpofu says coach education is key to the country producing top athletes.
Mpofu was speaking on the sidelines of two courses taking place at White City Stadium which are the Coach Education and Certification Systems (CECS) and Technical Officials Education System (TOECS).
The courses are being held countrywide with Harare hosting the first phase of courses before moving to Bulawayo.
The programme then proceeds to Mutare.
Naaz has made it possible for each province with at least 30 technical officials or coaches to register for officials’ or coaches’ courses, and they will host a class in their respective province.
This move is aimed at decentralising the programme and making it more accessible to athletes and coaches across the country.
Mpofu emphasised the importance of coach education.
Coaches go through training at White City Stadium yesterday
“The foundation of developing elite athletes is in having well-trained, knowledgeable coaches. Without the right coaching, even the most talented athletes may not reach their full potential. This initiative is not just about teaching coaching techniques, but about investing in the future of athletics in Zimbabwe. We are creating a system where coaches can pass on their skills, foster athlete development, and ultimately help raise the profile of our sports on the global stage,” said Mpofu.
Naaz is gearing for a hectic 2025 season that will also see them sending athletes to the World Relays coming up, the Africa Junior Championships, competing in the Confederation of African Athletics Under-18/Under-20 Championships in April, in Algeria and the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games set for Namibia in May.
