adminHomela made the same call when he was appointed national team coach in 1985 but Zifa did not heed his advice.
“If Zimbabwe is going to make an impact in the world we must have district centres up to provincial level that will take care of the players who will in future play for the national team.
“The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture should drive this if we are going to play in the World Cup or win a trophy on the grand stage,” said Homela.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Level One coaching clinic held at Gresham Primary School in Zvishavane where 63 teachers graduated on Monday, Homela gave a good example of former national team winger Joel Luphahla.
“I scouted the young man from Tsholotsho and he went on to play for the national team. All the PSL clubs must have scouts who will identify talent and they must be professional coaches,” he said.
In Zimbabwe it is mainly the urban setup which is well catered for but good players in remote places like Binga, Buhera, Mutoko and Kariba will always find it difficult to break into the national teams as the main focus is on Harare, Bulawayo and to an extent Zvishavane and Hwange.
“Do you mean to tell me that there are no good players in Murambinda?
“I urge the national coaches to visit such places scouting for untapped talent,” added Homela.
Gone are the days when junior or reserve sides would play a curtain-raiser match during league matches as the focus has been shifted to live bands or dance groups.
Stakeholders are trying to develop football at junior level which is the right direction for Zimbabwe, but their attempts are just a drop in the ocean as wider ground should be covered.
Teachers in Zvishavane District benefited from the coaching clinic whose aim was to catch the players young and develop them.
“Most of the players who are playing in the league have not been groomed or nurtured and we now need players to go through a refinery so that they will play football at the highest level in the world,” said the former Zimbabwe Saints player and national team coach.
The teachers were urged to groom players for local Premiership clubs FC Platinum and Shabanie Mine.
“Engineers, doctors and all other professionals come from teachers so players should also come from teachers.
“Go out there and produce players and I am challenging you to continue learning until you attain Level 4,” said Luke Mathuthu, the district education officer who addressed the participants.
Among the 63 participants four were women.
Online Reporter