Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Handball Federation technical director Bekezela Ncube is positive the IHF D licence coaching course that concluded last Friday will go a long way in strengthening their grassroots development efforts.
Twenty-five coaches attended the five-day course facilitated by International Handball Federation Commission of Coaching and Methods lecturer Anaclet Bagirishya.
The course, which caters mainly for coaches working with beginners, attracted 21 local trainers from across the country and four from Lesotho.
Speaking on the sidelines of the presentation of certificates to the 25 participants, Ncube said it is important to lay a strong foundation with qualified coaches working with upcoming players.
“We are happy now to say down there in the grassroots, we now have coaches, who have all the requisite information for the development of our young stars there.
“And these are the young stars that are going to be a feeder into our national team for boys and girls.
“This is a very important course for us as Zimbabwe, because as we speak, we have 21 coaches that have been certified here.
“And let me mention that this is an entry level for IHF for a coach to be able to coach a national team,” said Ncube.
Most of the coaches were drawn from Primary and Secondary Schools as well as tertiary institutions.
Also in attendance was the national Under-20 coach Tafadzwa Madure and Under-18 assistant coach Kudakwashe Gadzira, who topped the class.
“Looking at the content of the course, it’s really good for us because most of the coaches that are here are people that are in schools, either they are teaching at primary school or secondary school, others are at polytechnics.
“Our belief is that after this, they are going to really go to their respective areas and improve their coaching skills.
“The instructor that we had from Rwanda is a well-known instructor from the IHF.
“The information that he gave these guys is of paramount importance for us in building our teams,” added Ncube.
Sports and Recreation Commission acting director general Peter Mudzimiri, who was represented by provincial sport and recreation development officer for Harare Metropolitan Province Cleopatra Mareverwa at the function shared the same sentiments.
“The more qualified and capacitated our administrators, coaches, and technical officials are, the stronger and more competitive our teams become.
“The International Handball Federation Licence D course represents a significant milestone in our journey towards sporting excellence.
“As an internationally recognised programme, it equips our coaches not only with technical knowledge, but also with modern approaches grounded in sport science, athlete welfare, performance analysis, and long-term athlete development.
“These are critical elements if we are to consistently produce athletes capable of podium performance at regional, continental, and international levels,” said Mudzimiri.
Meanwhile, the Under-20 and Under-18 men’s teams are scheduled to leave for Zambia early this morning for the IHF ZONE VI Trophy that gets underway tomorrow in Lusaka.
Other countries expected to be part of the competition that will run until the weekend, include Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and hosts Zambia.
Zimbabwe are the defending champions in the Under-20 category, and for the Under-18 age-group, Zambia are the title holders.
