Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda Zimpapers Sports Hub
FIFA have expressed satisfaction with Zimbabwe’s renewed focus on schools football development, saying the country’s fresh approach marks an encouraging shift despite lingering infrastructure challenges.
Fifa Head of Development Programmes for Africa, Solomon Mudege, led a team of experts to Harare last week for the Essential Club Professionalisation and Management Course, the first of its kind in Southern Africa and only the second on the continent.
The workshop drew participants from Premier Soccer League clubs, the Women’s Soccer League and top Division One sides.
Speaking at the course, Mudege praised Zifa’s efforts under the leadership of Nqobile Magwizi to revive grassroots football and strengthen school involvement.
“Zimbabwe still have infrastructure challenges pegging back some of the ambitions that Fifa has,” said Mudege.
“But I think Zifa is interested in addressing that. Whenever we make infrastructure investments under the Forward Programme, the aim is to ensure the long-term benefit for Zifa and other member associations.”
He said Fifa were particularly impressed by Zifa’s rollout of the Football in Schools programme.
“ZIFA have already started working on football in schools and they’re doing very well in distributing footballs. There’s also an app available to teachers showing how to teach basic football drills,” he said.
Mudege added that the programme was about more than producing players.
“Football in schools also teaches respect for the environment, respect for others, and gender equality. These are key social aims of the project.”
Zimbabwe’s growing engagement with youth football has been visible in recent tournaments. The country hosted the Cosafa Under-17 competition in Harare in September, which made history as the first youth event in Southern Africa to use the VAR system. In 2023, Zimbabwe also staged the Caf Under-15 Schools Tournament.
Mudege said these efforts fit into Fifa’s broader Talent Development Scheme, from which Zifa continues to benefit.
“That scheme ensures every talent gets a chance. We now have a new technical director, which FIFA supported, to restore proper coaching courses and systems that had been missing for years,” he said.
Zifa’s new technical director, Dominique Niyonzima, is expected to spearhead nationwide development efforts.
“Through the TD’s work, a plan will emerge on how academies and training centres can contribute. Academies play an important role, but we also need to understand how to license them properly and ensure player safety,” said Mudege.
He reaffirmed Fifa’s commitment to backing school football structures, including collaborations with Naph and Nash.
“We need youth leagues so that player selection isn’t based on a one day or two day tournament, but over a full season where a player can consistently prove their quality,” he added.
derick.khumalo