Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is on a drive to elevate the standard of football coaching after conducting a 9-day coaching camp in Bindura, for Mashonaland Central-based coaches.
The coaching clinic, led by ZIFA instructors is an ongoing programme meant to align local coaching standards with international best practice.
“This coaching course is going to help a lot because its been long since we got training. I am happy we got training and we learnt the right things. We will correct mistakes that we were making. Many coaches will help this province to progress because we have pgot adequate training,” said Shadreck Njawala of DADA Soccer Academy.
“I have been coaching my children from passion and experience of seeing on television, without knowledge in detail, so this teaching will help me correct the wrong. I learnt that coaching is also a school,” added Zion Kingdom Academy’s coach, Primrose Manhika.
ZIFA Head of Coach Education, Dr. Joseph Sibindi is in charge of the programme.
“As part of my responsibility to support and supervise coach education in the country and also design the curriculum, I am here to review and reflect best practices that these guys are going through. It’s so far so good in terms of our objectives and we feel we are on the right track,” said Dr Sibindi.
ZIFA Mashonaland Central chairman, Gilbert Saika is in support of advanced training courses to improve the standard of football in the country.
“Our province is fast developing in terms of quality of football. We have got Simba Bhora playing very well in the premier league, we have a number of teams playing in Division One, so we hope if we have these qualified coaches, this will increase the number of teams playing at the top tier league.”
ZIFA has revamped its coaching methodology, offering courses from introductory licenses to CAF Pro, to inculcate international standards.
