adminSports Reporter
LOCAL Premiership coaches have been urged to take advantage of the Caf A Licence coaching course set to begin early next month to upgrade their qualifications in line with modern football practices.
Zifa were given the greenlight by the continental mother body to hold the prestigious course for the first time in Zimbabwe following the success of the 2012 Caf B Licence.
Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association chairman Bekhimpilo Ncube yesterday told The Herald there were about 160 local coaches with Caf B Licences but only 36 will be accommodated in the next course.
The remainder of the coaches will also be given the opportunity to upgrade as the participants will be enrolled in batches.
Coaches must be holders of the B Licence to be eligible.
“We have been given the thumbs up by Caf to hold the course and at the moment we are just waiting for the confirmation of the local instructor,” said Nyoni.
“This course is supposed to run for a month so it will be held for 14 days next month and then in December we will have another 14 days.
“Then the remaining four days will be conducted by an external assessor.
“Since we have limited places, participation is strictly by invitation and we have invited 45 people and from that number 36 participants will be selected on the first-come-first-serve basis since there are limited slots.
“This course is in line with the Club Licencing system and we expect that by 2015 all the Premiership coaches should be holders of the Caf A Licence.”
Zifa Communications Manager Xolisani Gwesela said the course will be held at the Zifa Village in Mt. Hampden from June 30 to July 13.
The Caf A Licence is the highest qualification for coaches under the Caf licensing system.
The successful coaches will need to practice for, at least, one year and then get in line for further upgrading to the Pro-Licence.
Most of Zimbabwean coaches attained the Caf B Licence two years ago when the course was conducted by Tanzanian instructor Sunday Kayuni and former Zifa technical director Nelson Matongorere.
Seven coaches
Rahman Gumbo, Adam Ndlovu, Mebelo Njekwa, Norman Mapeza, Johannes Nhuwa, George Jojo and John “Toto” Ncube — passed with distinctions while only three failed from the initial Caf B Licence lot.
Gwesela said the Caf A Licence will go a long way in improving the technical expertise of the game in Zimbabwe.
“The course is further evidence that Zifa is indeed committed to take football to greater heights by having the most educated coaches in Africa.
“This is great achievement for Zimbabwean Football,” said Gwesela.
Online Reporter