Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA have stepped up their quest to revive junior development programmes and guarantee the game’s future, with the association set to hold talks with the Premier Soccer League over a proposal to set up a reserve division for the top-flight this year.
The development will mandate all Premier Soccer League clubs to have an Under-18 reserve team that will take part in this competition.
Zimpapers Sports Hub understands that sponsorship for this initiative has since been secured and logical talks with key stakeholders, including the PSL will commence soon.
The football mother-body is alive to the fact that the conveyor belts in the football ecosystem have broken down over the years due to lip service given to development programmes.
Although it is mandatory for PSL clubs to register at least five players under the age of 20, few of those juniors have seen regular action in the top-flight, rendering the exercise futile.
Top-tier clubs rarely get to field players registered under the junior quota system as espoused by the PSL and the youngsters, instead of getting progressive development, end up regressing due to a lack of competitive game time.
ZIFA have since noted the anomaly and have sought to address through setting up a league that will also ensure the country will not be short of active Young Warriors to pick for national duty.
A source at ZIFA yesterday said: “As ZIFA, we want to create a clear talent pathway where youngsters will fit seamlessly without disrupting the order at elite level.
“Junior football development is the hallmark of a good football ecosystem. Imagine having a team in the top leagues that has an average age of, say, 29. They do so well in two or three successive seasons but their standard falls in the fourth or fifth year.
“It’s because there is no continuity or juniors coming in directly to replace those who would be retiring. The reason is that the juniors won’t be adequately prepared to start playing at the highest level. That is because there isn’t a deliberate plan to have a proper junior league.
“As ZIFA, we already have a plan at Under-14 and Under-16 levels for both genders in the upcoming ZIFA Presidential Challenge Cup. But there is also the Under-18 age-group which needs to be ushered into senior football.
“That’s the reason why we have said we will be meeting the PSL to propose having an Under-18 Reserve League running under the same wingers as the senior players. We believe that way will be beneficial in terms of developing the future stars. We are saying every Premier Soccer League team should have an Under-18 reserve team that plays in the Reserve League which will be a well-sponsored tournament.”
Premiership clubs used to have reserve sides where the next generation of footballers would be unearthed with players like Desmond Maringwa, Vitalis Takawira, Nesbert Saruchera, the late Joe Mugabe, having first shown their potential during the curtain raiser matches in those teams.
But with time the systems collapsed, and clubs now concentrate more on their senior teams, and quite a number don’t even have academies.
Only Ngezi Platinum Stars, FC Platinum, Highlanders and Manica Diamonds have reserve sides participating in the country’s second tier leagues — the regional upper-second competition in the country, the Division One.
ZIFA want the country to emulate what is happening in countries like England and South Africa.
In England, top-tier teams have their reserve sides competing in the England Premier Reserve League where several of Zimbabwe’s Warriors players, who include Jordan Zemura and Tawanda Maswanhise once shone brightly.
South Africa have done so well at international level since the introduction of the Reserve League, the DStv Diski Challenge in 2014.
The league has grown in leaps and bounds with some of the former and current members of the Bafana Bafana squad like Percy Tau, Keagan Dolly, Siyabonga Ngezana and Lyle Foster having been realised from this competition.
What you need is not a reserve side for the Premier League Teams. You need a B team which plays regularly, on the same matchday as the A Team. Therefore, wisdom is required on the composition; regulatory environment; and significantly player limits for both leagues.
= Trim the number of senior players to 23 or 25, and limit the number of under 18 players to 15. Rule of thumb: number of players registered not to exceed more than double those required on the field. This improves quality available and encourages clubs to chose wisely in player acquisitions or hiring. Chikumba nekuti tine mari chiri kuitika ichi hachina kunaka chinouraya bhora.
= Limit number of under 18 players on-field to no less than 7 on match day.
= B League match is a curtain raiser for matchday.
= I propose a “B team” that is essentially part of the “A team” squad, allowing seamless player movement on the same match day without registration hurdles.
= address the lack of game time for senior players and aid in the development of young talent by providing consistent, competitive matches. Too large an A team kills talent
= Maintain League Integrity: (eg) Highlanders FC members are distinct from those of Bosso 90 because ZPSL is different from ZSRL.
Advantages
– B teams offer a consistent, competitive platform for talented young players to transition to adult football, which is crucial for long-term development.
– B team would allow senior players not featuring for the “A” team on a given weekend to maintain match fitness and form, leading to overall improved league quality (kwete zvatakaona for greater parts of the previous season where we endured sub-standard football just for the sake of being called supporters)
– Exposes a wider pool of players for national teams selection in a single sitting.
– allows coaches flexibility without administrative burdens.
– more mileage for sponsors, selectors, spectators, and scouts.
– improve the entire football ecosystem: supports sustainable player development and improved league quality (etc)
I propose for a “B team” that is essentially part of the “A team” squad, allowing seamless player movement on the same match day without registration hurdles, suggests a significant shift from current practices in the ZPSL.