Is it the end of an era for old school coaches?

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

FOR the past two seasons, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) has seen a quiet revolution, one led not from boardrooms, but the dugouts.

Younger coaches, once dismissed as understudies, are now calling the shots. They are not just showing up; they are winning titles.

In 2023, at just 40, Takesure Chiragwi made history by guiding Ngezi Platinum Stars to their first-ever league title.

It was a breakthrough, not just for the coach, but also for the Mashonaland West side, becoming the first club from that province to lift the crown.

Then came Tonderai Ndiraya, who, at 47, led Simba Bhora to the 2024 championship, only in their second season in the top-flight.

That victory was not just historic for the Shamva-based side. It made them the first club from Mashonaland Central to win the PSL title.

Both coaches scooped the Coach of the Year accolades in their respective seasons.

As the 2025 campaign hits its halfway mark, Chiragwi and Ndiraya are still in the mix, firmly embedded in the title race.

Among the top four teams on the current log table, three are coached by men aged 48 or younger. Only MWOS head coach Lloyd Mutasa, 55, breaks that trend.

Simba Bhora, now under Joel Lupahla (48), are just a point behind leaders MWOS. TelOne, with Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa (46) at the helm, sit third. Ndiraya’s Scottland round up the top four.

At the other end of the table? It is mostly the old guard, coaches aged 55 and above, whose teams are sinking.

Dynamos and Yadah, both in the relegation zone, are led by veteran tacticians Saul Chaminuka and Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe. Joey Antipas (65) is overseeing a faltering Chicken Inn, currently 14th.

Manica Diamonds recently parted ways with veteran Jairos Tapera, bringing in younger blood in Tafadzwa Mashiri.

Taurai Mangwiro (55) and Lloyd Chitembwe (54) were also shown the door at GreenFuel and CAPS United, respectively, after poor runs.

Both clubs now languish mid-table, Makepekepe and Boyz Dze Nharo sitting 11th and 12th with 20 points apiece.

This clear divide in results has sparked conversations across football circles: Are we witnessing a generational shift on Zimbabwe’s touchlines?

Former ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede believes so.

“One thing we should all admit is that a younger generation of coaches is now taking over,” said Mutekede, 54, now coaching Bikita Minerals, a side exceeding expectations in 10th place.

“Yes, we still have remnants of the old generation here and there, but the young ones are more active compared to the old guard.

“This is also confirmation of the way and the rate at which the game is evolving globally.”

Mutekede, during his ZIFA tenure, was a vocal advocate of coaching education and constant upgrading.

He says technology has become a central pillar in modern football, and younger coaches are adjusting more seamlessly than their older peers.

“Just like other industries, technology is taking over,” he said. “So, new models of the game are coming up and naturally the young guys will be more at it.

“Yesteryear coaching and what is happening now are different. Methods of training have changed. Scientific football has taken over globally.”

Back then, he says, coaching was a one-man show.

Today, a head coach needs a team of at least 12 specialists, including statisticians, performance analysts, dieticians and fitness trainers, each playing a role in shaping the squad.

“The application of science helps clubs and coaches focus on key details, something old school coaches rarely looked into,” said Mutekede.

“Modern coaching requires breaking down play, monitoring recovery and diet and tracking every player’s output in granular detail.”

Still, he concedes that success is not solely about youth or tech.

In the past decade, veteran coaches like Antipas (2015), Chitembwe (2016) and Norman Mapeza (2017-2019, 2022) were the ones who won league titles.

But there was one common thread — financial muscle.

“It may signal a generational change,” Mutekede said, “but the one thing that most clubs don’t realise is that those coaches were backed by solid funding.

“They had support systems that could attract talent and provide all the resources needed for a title-winning team.”

That disparity still exists.

In South Africa, most clubs boast full-fledged technical teams, while locally, some coaches still reject the idea of adding performance analysts.

ZIFA technical director Jethro Hunidzarira says many local coaches still lack exposure to modern football thinking.

“Coaching trends have evolved worldwide, and we’ve been left far behind,” he said. “It’s time for modern-thinking coaches to step up. They can be young or old.

“The key is embracing new methods and applying them consistently. That’s the only way to produce players who meet international standards.”

Hunidzarira did not hold back on ZIFA’s shortcomings.

“Our game has lost a lot,” he said. “Technically, our players are lacking. Physical conditioning is also a major concern; the local league lacks intensity.”

Hunidzarira believes coaches need both exposure and an enabling environment to fully apply modern methods. But too often, he said, the pressure to win leads to reluctance to field young players.

“There’s too much pressure to get results, regardless of performance. That’s why most teams won’t play the Under-20s they’re allocated,” he said.

“Our grassroots and youth football need to be revived so that senior teams get quality players from academies and youth systems.”

Does this mean this is the end of the road for Zimbabwe’s old school coaches? Not entirely.

But one thing is clear: those who are not willing to evolve will be left behind.