Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association in support of standardisation

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association (Zisca) is in support of implementation of standardisation of coaches and wants Zifa to roll it out to the core.

Philani Mabhena, the Zisca vice-chairman said his executive will be engaging Zifa with the view of finding common ground after the national football mother body indicated that there will be no sacred cows when applying standardisation of coaches.

The coaches said since no Caf coaching clinics have been held since 2017, they believe that as “important” stakeholders they deserve a meeting with Zifa.

“We’re not saying Zifa is wrong in implementing Club Licensing. Without a doubt, Club Licencing seeks to improve the game and as Zisca we want it further administered to the core. If you look at Club Licencing, it doesn’t hinder coaches that haven’t done Caf A Licence and that is why we are seeking to have dialogue with Zifa to communicate, share and seek clarity on how best to move forwards in absence of Caf courses in Zimbabwe,” Mabhena said.

Zisca said they have noted that few Caf courses have been held in neighbouring countries where they give first preference to their nationals.

With Zimbabwe on Fifa ban, Zisca is hoping that the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) as well as Zifa will speed up the process of getting the country back on the international scene. Lifting the ban will allow Zifa to apply for Caf courses.

Mabhena said besides focusing on the topflight, their hope is that Zifa will cascade standardisation to the grassroots.

“It’s pleasing to note that Zifa has put it on record that they are engaging the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education with the hope of having qualified coaches at that stage. We hope those negotiations sail through because it will mean that coaches in the national database will get opportunities to practice and teach kids at the grassroots correct techniques. In turn, investing at the developmental stages means the country stands to benefit a lot in terms of getting properly coached talent,” said Mabhena.

According to resolutions made by Zifa in 2017 that the present leadership is implementing, Premiership coaches and their assistants should be in possession of a Caf A badge. Division One coaches must have a minimum of Caf B while assistant coaches are required to be holders of a Caf C or Zifa Level Four licence.

In the Second Division, a coach should have a Caf C licence while his understudies are required to have a Level Three qualification as a minimum standard.

The coaching standards also cascade down to Division Three, tertiary institutions and schools. For secondary schools, a Zifa Level Two badge became mandatory and primary school football coaches were expected to have at least Level Two certificate.

Seasoned coach and football legend, Moses Chunga gave standardisation of coaches a vote of confidence, saying its implementation improve the level and quality of our football because it also involves the grassroots level.

The veteran coach said it is pleasing to note that the Government is also complementing development of sport through its policies, which is complements what’s on the ground.

“If you are good at sports, you must be able to live your dream. Every child has a talent, some are good academically and some are talented otherwise, and everyone deserves a chance.

“We are now acknowledging that sport is an industry and can now generate revenue for the country. It can also help people’s livelihoods. No one has a monopoly over ideas, and we cannot achieve all this without involving everyone.

“We are our own enemies because we view each other as a threat. People are not comfortable working with each other and developing our football to a better level.

“We must listen to all ideas and embrace the good ones, regardless of who they are from. Let’s weigh the ideas, and not the person,” Chunga told our sister publication H-Metro. -@ZililoR