adminShe has made the grade to undergo a Germany “A” Licence course together with other 30 best qualified participants from all over the world who excelled in the “B” Licence international coaching course held during the past three years in the European country.
The Germany “A” licence is the second highest qualification and follows behind or can lead to the Uefa pro licence, which is the final football coaching qualification available.
Since 1976, the German Football Federation has held —on behalf of the German Foreign Office — coaching courses for coaches from all over the world. In the past three years they have been conducting this programme with coaches involved with junior teams in their countries.
About 100 participants from all English-speaking countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, Asian countries and South American nations took part in the Germany “B” Licence course.
And the former Mighty Warriors’ player emerged as one of the best coaches and has been invited for the advanced course.
In 2011, former Under-20 mentor Taurai Mangwiro went to Germany for the “B” Licence and last year Sibanda and Under-20 women’s soccer team head coach, Langton Giwa, attended the course while in 2010 the country did not send a participant.
However, Sibanda made the grade ahead of her fellow countrymen Mangwiro and Giwa, who have not been invited for the advanced stage.
If Kwinji passes the coaching course, which would be conducted at the Sportschule Hennef, with good grades, she would become the first local female coach to do so.
Kwinji, who would be leaving next week for the three-week course which begins on April 15, was naturally excited with the development.
The former Zimbabwe international midfielder was one of the most talented women’s soccer midfielders to emerge in the country.
Together with other former Mighty Warriors players such as Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo and Esrom Nyandoro’s wife Ruth Banda, they helped the team reach the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations in 2000 in Johannesburg.
They lost 0-6 to eventual winners Nigeria. After hanging her boots, Sibanda ventured into coaching and has participated in a number of coaching courses and is one of the highly qualified women’s soccer coaches.
Early this year, she was part of the Premiership and national team coaches who took part in a week-long high level course conducted by a German instructor.
She is already a holder of the Caf “B” Licence and Germany “B” Licence.
“It is a great opportunity and l am grateful to get this chance and I know this time around it would be much tougher both the theoretical and the practical work.
“I am also grateful to the people who have been involved in making this trip a success, Mr Klaus (Pagels) for facilitating and all the logistics, Ms Gumbo (Mavis, women’s soccer chairperson), for meeting the financial part of this trip.
“I am going to work hard and give it my all so that I can pass with good grades and attain the licence. It is a challenge knowing that you are rubbing shoulders with some of the people who are regarded as the best.
“It is always good for every coach to get to refresh and continue to learn modern trends of football,” said Sibanda.
The Inline Academy junior coach is confident that the experience she got from her first international course in Germany last year would help her to quickly adjust.
Zifa technical advisor and Warriors coach Pagels said it was good that local coaches are continuously exposed to modern coaching trends.
“I am really happy that she passed the “B” Licence well and got selected.
“I think it is good for Zimbabwean football, the better the coaches are educated, the whole Zimbabwean football will benefit.
“And l am really happy that the Women’s Desk supports this and chipped in with a lot of money for the airfares,” said Pagels.
Online Reporter