Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA’S newly appointed foreign coaches will be judged on results and whether they develop Zimbabweans capable of eventually replacing them, association president Nqobile Magwizi has said.
Knowledge transfer forms part of the mandate given to Warriors coach Ramon Catala, Under-23 coach Marc Sanchez and Mighty Warriors coach Stella Gotal under Dream 2030.
The appointments have sparked debate after former Warriors assistant Kaitano Tembo, one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced coaches, was reassigned to the national Under-20 side.
Magwizi insists the foreign appointments are meant to strengthen, rather than sideline, local coaches.
“International appointments must never marginalise Zimbabwean coaches. Quite the opposite. Dream 2030 must leave us with better Zimbabwean coaches than we have today,” he said.
“We expect knowledge transfer, mentorship, coach education, technical workshops and shared methodology.
“The success of these appointments will not only be measured by results. It will also be measured by whether we develop a new generation of Zimbabwean coaches capable of eventually leading these teams themselves.”
Magwizi said ZIFA had deliberately sought foreign expertise for the men’s and women’s programmes.
“At senior level, we have deliberately brought in international technical experience,” he said.
“For the men’s programme, we have Spanish technical leadership. For the women’s programme, we have Croatian technical leadership. This is not about importing coaches simply because they are European.”
He said ZIFA expected the coaches to bring knowledge, methodology and high-performance standards that would ultimately be passed on to Zimbabweans.
“The mandate is bigger than ‘come and coach our national team’. It is ‘come and help us build our football system’.”
Catala, a UEFA Pro Licence holder, has more than three decades of experience across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, although his record as a senior head coach is limited.
Sanchez, Catala’s first assistant and the Under-23 head coach, has more than 13 years of professional coaching experience. He has worked at CE Sabadell, CF Damm, Villarreal and RCD Mallorca.
Second assistant Vicente Girona Izquierdo has specialist qualifications in scouting, analysis, sports psychology and management. His career includes spells at Villarreal, Shanghai Shenhua and the Algerian Football Federation.
Gotal (33), also holds a UEFA Pro Licence and previously coached the Gibraltar women’s national team. She will be assisted by Arthur Gorejena.
CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi remains a Warriors assistant, while former ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede will assist Sanchez with the Under-23s.
Tafadzwa Mashiri will lead the men’s Under-17 team, assisted by George Mbwando, while Backleyfield Chivenga and Alexio Sigion have been placed in charge of the Under-15s.
Rosemary Mugadza heads the women’s Under-20 side, assisted by Naison Muchekela, while Jatson Maphosa leads the Under-17s with Thubelihle Sibanda as his assistant.
Football agent George Deda backed the policy, arguing that Zimbabwe could benefit from exposure to foreign coaching systems.
“Zimbabwe cannot be an island or live in isolation,” he said.
“You need a coach who has authority, who has seen it all and who is qualified enough to produce the required results. In this case, I salute what Magwizi has done.
“It might be painful for other people to ask why they were left behind, but the truth is that we don’t meet the levels of those appointed in those positions.”
Magwizi said national coaches would also be assessed on more than results, particularly at age-group level.
“We expect every national team to compete, and every coach wants to win. But particularly at youth level, the scoreboard cannot be the only measurement,” he said.
“We will also look at how many players are identified, how many progress to the next age group, technical and tactical improvement, physical development, discipline, international competitiveness, the integration of local and diaspora talent and, ultimately, how many players reach senior international football.”
“The greatest achievement of an Under-17 coach may not simply be winning an Under-17 tournament. It may be producing six or seven future Warriors or Mighty Warriors.”
