Zifa to train junior referees, 680 grassroots, junior coaches a year

Fungai Muderere
ZIFA will next year train junior match officials in the 15-20 years of age range as recommended by Fifa for grassroots and junior development programme.

The football mother bodyaï¿½ï¿½s vice -president Omega Sibanda said the training of junior referees would be done countrywide.

aï¿½?These young referees will take charge of juniorsaï¿½ï¿½ matches. They will also officiate in womenaï¿½ï¿½s football games to gain exposure,aï¿½? said Sibanda.

The programme would be headed by newly appointed technical director Taurai Mangwiro. Unlike in previous years where the country was not producing grassroots and junior football development coaches, beginning next year the target was to have 680 development mentors.

aï¿½?For now we cannot afford to speak about grassroots and junior development coaches because we have not been producing them,aï¿½? said Sibanda.

Grassroots coaches are for players aged between six and 12 years. Junior coaches deal with players aged between 13-18 years.

aï¿½?This is all about trying to improve the supply chain of players from juniors to first teams. We have seen players climb up the ladder courtesy of their natural talent and we are thankful to academies that have gone to produce stars,aï¿½? said Sibanda.

The Warriors duo of Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, who have taken the national team by storm with their sublime skills and have become the pillar of coach Kallisto Pasuwa, are products of Harare-based Aces Academy which started in 2001.

Sibanda said there was a need to groom young football talent and football festivals would be introduced next year.

aï¿½?There is a Fifa fund for football festivals and as we seek to groom young football talent, next year we will hold about three festivals. The festivals will spread all over the country for the benefit of every young star,aï¿½? said the Zifa vice -president. .