Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi has admitted that the association used to scramble for coaches and players whenever national team competitions approached, as it promises a permanent development pathway from Under-15 level to the Warriors and Mighty Warriors.
Yet his declaration that Dream 2030 begins at Under-15 comes after ZIFA deliberately left the Young Warriors out of next month’s COSAFA Under-20 Championship in Mauritius.
The regional tournament, scheduled for September 18 to 27, will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Magwizi was speaking as ZIFA unveiled Spaniard Ramon Catala as Warriors coach and Croatian Stella Gotal as Mighty Warriors coach.
Former Warriors defender Kaitano Tembo was appointed head coach of the Young Warriors, with Max Makanza as his assistant.
Magwizi said the appointments represented a broader technical direction rather than an exercise to fill vacant posts.
Under the previous approach, he said, national teams operated separately, with coaches and players identified only when competitions were approaching.
Once those teams had played, the process stopped until another tournament came along.
“We are moving from the competition-to-competition approach and going towards generation-to-generation planning,” Magwizi said.
“Under Dream 2030, we are building one national football ecosystem from Under-15 through to the senior national teams for both men and women.
“The message is simple. Dream 2030 starts at Under-15 and does not start at the senior national team.
“Today is not simply about announcing coaches. It is about announcing a technical direction for Zimbabwe.”
Under the proposed structure, the men’s pathway will cover the Under-15, Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 teams before players graduate to the Warriors.
The women’s structure will run from Under-15 through the Under-17 and Under-20 teams to the Mighty Warriors.
ZIFA said last week that leaving the Young Warriors out of the COSAFA tournament was a “deliberate strategic decision”.
The association said it no longer wanted to enter competitions merely to fulfil fixtures and would only send out teams that were properly selected, adequately prepared and supported by a clear technical programme.
Magwizi did not explain why those structures could not be built while the Young Warriors competed in Mauritius or how players in that age group would receive international exposure this year.
He said the new system would establish a recognisable Zimbabwean football philosophy, maintain player development across the age groups and produce competitive national teams.
ZIFA’s ambition is for Zimbabwe to compete consistently at the Africa Cup of Nations, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.
Magwizi also promised a defined development structure for women’s football.
“Women’s football must also have its own career development pathway,” he said.
“It must also have its own competition, talent identification processes and technical programme.”
He said the appointment of foreign coaches should also benefit local coaches through mentorship, coach education, technical workshops and the exchange of coaching methods.
The presentation contained no implementation timetable, competition programme or budget for the age-group teams.
Nor did it say when Tembo’s Young Warriors would play their first match.
