Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede says the suspension of the football motherbody by Fifa does not mean the association has gone on holiday as shown by the nationwide campaign to equip aspiring coaches.
The association is presently holding Level One coaching clinics across the country.
Mutekede is in Bulawayo where the association is having a level one coaching course at Milton High School.
Level One coaching is the stepping stone for coaching as participants attending the course are taught how to coach the game and how to work with players from the grassroots level.
Junior football is the foundation of the game of football and it is important that coaches are equipped with knowledge and skills to nurture talent hence the importance of the course.
The notable names attending the course are Chicken Inn secretary general Tavengwa Hara, players Guide Goddard, Moses Jackson and the GameCocks goalkeepers coach Energy Murambadoro. Other familiar faces at the course are Ben Nyahunzvi, Samuel Mafukidze and former Highlanders defender Lawson Nkomo. Gibson Homela and Joseph Sibindi are facilitating the seven day programme.
Mutekede says he is impressed with the composition of participants for this particular course.
“The course is going on very well. This is a level one beginners course. Due to Covid-19 we did not have courses for quite some time but we are happy to have 30 participants taking part which is almost a full class.
“The composition of the class is very good as we have former players, present players and administrators. We have six ladies as well and we are happy about that. We are laying a foundation for future coaches. Just taking it from them, it’s clear they are enjoying the learning process,” said Mutekede.
“This is a huge transition for all of them as we have seasoned instructors. The delivery from them has been good. Basically we are under suspension and we said yes we are under suspension but what can we do in that period. So we decided that domestically we have done a lot in terms of growing our game.
“I think we know that to have good players we ought to have good coaches. While we are under suspension that cannot stop us from capacitating our coaches. More courses have been lined up. People should go to their provincial offices and register for these courses,” he said.
Homela said: “The participants are willing to learn. Even the numbers are good. It’s good that we have six female coaches here.
This is not a bad number because the interest in coaching is increasing for women’s football.
“Women normally do not come for such courses but we encourage them to register for these courses. It’s very important because here we teach the basics that play a huge part in the development of the coach.”
CAF courses are however still frozen pending the fulfilment of conditions set by the continental football mother body.
Zifa were ordered to set up structures before they could apply for permission and assistance from CAF.
The association is still working on satisfying conditions set by CAF in order to be allowed to conduct CAF coaching courses. One of the critical conditions is to have a fully staffed technical directorate, which the executive committee has committed to do. – @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter