Not everyone can be coach

They believe that by virtue of having been brilliant or ordinary players during their time they can become great gaffers.
Last week the Moses Chunga-led Zimbabwe Coaches Union was in Bulawayo for a get-together which happened, created a platform for the movement to address the former players and coaches that attended the function.
They briefed their delegates on what their union was all about and what it was advocating for.
What became clear was that most of the former players that subscribe to the union think that they can all become coaches, something which is impossible.
Today, Saturday Leisure takes a look at options open to retired players other than coaching.
Zimbabwe’s ex-soccer players can emulate what other legends like Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Yeste, Michel Platini of France, former Inter Milan and Liberia star George Weah, Abedi Ayew better known as Abedi Pele of Ghana and Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya among others.
The above took administrative roles after retiring.
Yeste joined Real Madrid as a player in 1911 and became the club’s president from 1941 to 1978. He helped in turning the club to a Spanish and European powerhouse it is today.
The club honoured him by naming their home stadium after the legend and even today Real Madrid play at Santiago Bernabeau Stadium.
Platini is the Uefa president with Bwalya at the helm of the Football Association of Zambia while Weah used his fame to launch a political career.
Abedi Pele was appointed by the Ghana government to become the next chairman of that country’s football body but the legend turned down the offer saying he wanted to learn more. He is into junior development and owns a Second Division club Nania FC.
Former Highlanders and Warriors striker Zenzo Moyo challenged his compatriots to take up courses that would see them being actively involved in different areas in football.
“The issue of everyone wanting to be a coach is a growing concern for everyone. All of us played soccer but we cannot all be coaches. For example, I will have a Level Two coaching certificate but I don’t want to be a coach. What I want is to become an agent and I am working on gathering all the requirements then I will go for the exam so that I get the license.
“The other problem is that most of the former players are afraid to undertake courses or I can say bayesaba amabhuku. If they want to be administrators, they have to have the right skills and qualifications.
“In countries like South Africa people like Daniel Mudau and Brian Baloyi are administrators and it is their clubs and associations that encouraged them to take up relevant courses.
“I believe as former players we should take initiatives, approach Zifa and PSL to recommend those that are willing to take up courses,” said Moyo.
Jerry Sibanda, who was Highlanders’ manager last season said former players should be active at their clubs by taking up administrative posts.
“The problem is that most guys during their playing career were or are blinkered and cannot look at other options outside coaching.
“You find people complaining that they are being sidelined from football activities yet they are not visible.
“I consider myself as an administrator so I do not look forward to taking up coaching.
“There are people like King Kalu Bwalya and George Weah, these guys are ambassadors of football and they help in different ways. They are administrators and why don’t we also attend courses so that we have the required skills and qualifications?” Sibanda said.
A football administrator who declined to be named challenged former players to form consultancy firms among other things.
He said retired players could take advantage of their links during their playing days to get business.
“It seems some of these retired players are not aware that their names can be brands they could ride on. They can use their names to get into business.
“What these guys should do is adjust and get education.
“Retired players can be match analysts just like what happens in the Barclays English League, SuperSport among others. As we speak Benni McCarthy will be analysing most of the Afcon 2012 matches and this has been made possible by his links,” said the administrator.
Veteran gaffer Cosmas ‘Tsano’ Zulu concurred saying retired players could be used by clubs as scouts.