Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has taken another giant stride in sharpening the nation’s football brains after hosting a transformative CAF C Refresher Course at the ZIFA Village from 13 to 17 October 2025.
The five-day workshop brought together 19 coaches from clubs, academies, and institutions across Zimbabwe, all hungry to upgrade their technical know-how and stay in tune with the modern game.
Guided by FIFA and CAF educators, the participants went through a rigorous blend of fieldwork and classroom sessions. Mornings were spent on the pitch fine-tuning tactical structures, ball progression, and team organisation, while afternoons were devoted to theory, match analysis, player management, and football periodisation.
At the end of the course, all participants renewed their CAF C Licences for another three years, a move that keeps them eligible to serve on technical benches. More importantly, the training opened a clear pathway for them to advance to CAF B level, boosting Zimbabwe’s coaching standards.
ZIFA also used the event to assess the country’s coaching depth, identify areas for improvement, and spot promising mentors ready for higher responsibilities.
Running parallel to the refresher was the CAF Coach Educator Mentorship Programme, which seeks to produce Zimbabwe’s own certified coach trainers.
Four candidates, Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, Tafadzwa Mashiri, Wilson Mutekede, and Joseph Sibindi, were evaluated in the fourth phase of their mentorship. They now move to the final stage before becoming fully accredited CAF instructors.
ZIFA says the initiative is part of its long-term mission to professionalise local football through continuous education.
“Educated coaches are the foundation of football growth,” a ZIFA official said. “They bring tactical insight, scientific understanding, and discipline to both players and teams.”
