Database for coaches in progress

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA have asked soccer coaches to submit their coaching certificates to the national football mother body, in their efforts to create a database for gaffers.

Xolisani Gwesela allayed fears that Zifa is on a “witch-hunt” to fish out some of the coaches who acquired many coaching badges on a fast track basis.

“We are creating a data base for our coaches so that we know how many gaffers we have in the country and their qualifications. Information collected will also be used to plan for future training programmes. The deadline for submission is October 31,” said Gwesela.

He said local coaches can drop their certificates at Zifa’s regional and provincial offices while those who are outside the country can liaise with the technical director Taurayi Mangwiro on how their details can be captured.

Former Zifa technical director Takaendesa Jongwe told our sister paper, The Herald early this year that Zifa had by that time trained 41 Caf A Licence holders, 114 Caf B, 166 Caf C and an estimated 4,000 men from Level One to Level Four. Three women hold the Caf B in Zimbabwe while two are qualified Caf C Licence coaches.

There are also over 200 women with Level One to Level Four certificates.

He is on record saying Division One coaches should possess at least a Caf B Licence while a special waiver has been availed to those with Caf C and studying towards the higher qualification.

Zifa also ordered that coaches in Division Two and tertiary institutions should be Caf C Licence holders while Level One is now the minimum at primary schools and Level Two for the secondary schools.

The national association highlighted that it was important that National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) and National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) adhere to the requirements since they deal with raw talent which needs special care.

However, because of abuse of office, Zifa suspended coaching clinics saying they are going to be responsible for all training programmes.

Gwesela said: “The national association noted with concern that some of the coaches were attaining many levels within a year which is not the stipulated period. One has to do a level in a year and then upgrade the following year but there were instances where that wasn’t happening. To curb that, Zifa will be the sole organisers of coaching clinics.”

@ZililoR