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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Handball Federation president Amon Madzvamuse has described the four-day International Level One coaching and fitness training course as a great success.
The combined coaching course and fitness training held at Jameson High School in Kadoma last week was conducted by Swedish coach Henrik Signell and fitness trainer Elvir Rakovic.
The coaching course attracted 60 participants while the fitness training course saw 30 people taking part.
Participants were drawn from Manicaland, Midlands, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East and the hosts Mashonaland West.
Madzvamuse said the courses will bring a new era for handball as they have been lagging behind in some areas.
“We had about 90 participants. It was a successful one and the turnout was substantial as participants were coming in as per ZHF requirements and we are now looking at a brighter future. We are going to use the fitness trainers that we now have.
“We are starting with the Zambian trophy from August 30 to September 6. We are going to engage a fitness trainer from those that we have. So now I think I can say it’s a turn around in our handball circles.
“Out of the 90 participants, we had about 30 fitness trainers and 60 participants for Level One coaching course. We did not have the Level Three course because we said we have to start with Level One. You cannot have a Level Three when you do not have an international Level One certificate,” said Madzvamuse.
Initially, there were supposed to be two courses held separately — the first one was earmarked for coaches from Mashonaland West and the second one was to be a national event that would cater for coaches from all provinces.
However, Madzvamuse said they combined the two since they had two instructors coming and also for logistics reasons.
“It was all to do with the turnout because we were supposed to have a fitness training course and a coaching course separately. So, in terms of the turnout we did not have the minimum number according to the international standards and we decided to combine them into one.
“When doing an international course it must be 45 participants and above just like our requirements here in Zimbabwe so we adopted that. Most of our coaches came from Mashonaland West and for the other provinces, we had a number that did not surpass the required number and also it was to do with logistics.
“Again there was a request from Mashonaland West that they want these coaches to have time with their teams that are going to participate in this year’s Partille Cup in Sweden in July,” said Madzvamuse.
Rakovic will be leaving Zimbabwe on Thursday while Signell leaves on Saturday after completing the course yesterday. And Madzvamuse said they will try to engage Signell for a refresher course for all league coaches before he leaves.
“Signell will be training the Mashonaland West Under-14 boys team and girls Under-11 team that will be going for the Partille Cup. It was a request from them to have the coach up to June 8 in liaison with ZHF.
“We also want to take advantage of them. ZHF might need to have them meet all the coaches that are in the National League. Maybe a one-day refresher course for the coaches with clubs playing in the league,” said Madzvamuse. The ZHF president said they are looking at a long-term relationship with Sweden and over the years, Zimbabwe have been participating in the Partille Cup which is the world’s biggest handball tournament.
This year’s Partille Cup is set to run from June 30 to July 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Zimbabwe will be represented by more than five junior teams there.
Online Reporter