adminRaymond Jaravaza, Sports Correspondent
PREMIER Soccer League and Division One coaches are part of the 16 local football gaffers taking part in a Caf B course that started at the YWCA Centre in Bulawayo on Monday.
Mutare City Rovers coach Takura Shariwa and Bulawayo City FC interim coach Try Ncube as well as Zifa Southern Region Division One side Bulawayo Chiefs’ coach Thulani Sibanda, Bantu Rovers junior team coach Agent Sawu and Amagagasi head coach Zibonele Ncube are part of the participants vying for Caf B badges.
Sawu’s Under-16 team were recently confirmed winners of the Bulawayo Province Junior League Serie A with two games to spare before the end of the season.
Former Warriors’ striker Gilbert Mushangazhike and Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches’ Association secretary-general Innocent Chogugudza are also attending the 18-day course alongside Dumile Kaizer Mpofu, Clement Mugari, Shadreck Mugurasawe, Ndawana Dube, Conrad Nyambabvu, Charles Mutere, Tonderai Marume, Joseph Michael and Njabulo Dude.
However, 10 participants, among them Bulawayo City striker Mkhokheli Dube and former Highlanders’ goalkeeper Peter Nkomo, were sent home after failing to meet the criteria required to take part in the course.
“We only accepted coaches with a Caf C badge and a minimum of two years working experience so 10 guys were sent back home for failing to meet the criteria.
“The majority of aspiring participants that were sent back home were holders of Caf C badges, but fell short of the two years experience,” said course coordinator Gibson Homela.
Homela is a former member of the Zifa high performance technical committee. Zifa technical director Taurai Mangwiro and Nelson Matongorere are the course instructors.
Unlike a Caf C course that is assessed by a local coach, a foreign coach seconded by Caf will assess the Bulawayo course.
“Caf will send a foreign coach to assess the course a few days before examinations. Coaches will go through the technical, physical, tactical and psychological aspects of the game. Dr Xolani Ndlovu will take the coaches through the sports medicine and scientific aspects of football,” said Homela.
Ndlovu is a former Highlanders team doctor. Zifa recently revised minimum requirements for national teams and PSL club coaches that compelled coaches to be holders of Caf A Licences together with Zifa Level 4 certificates to sit on their respective technical benches.
The new minimum requirements cascade down to primary school coaches.
Online Reporter