From Talent to Team

By Nqobile Magwizi – ZIFA President

Every Zimbabwean football fan felt the sting when our Under-20 men’s and women’s teams were knocked out in the first round of the recent African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 tournament, which also served as the COSAFA Under-20 Championship. It was a tough moment – not just for the players and coaches, but for all of us who cherish the future of our game.
But in every setback lies an opportunity. Our struggles must push us to rethink youth football in Zimbabwe.

Instead of dwelling on disappointment or casting blame, we must ask: What does it really take to turn raw talent into winning teams? How do we nurture the next generation of Warriors who will wear our national colours with pride and competitiveness on the regional and world stage?

Learning From Our Performance

As part of our long-term development strategy, we fielded largely Under-17 teams in the AUSC Region 5 Under-20 tournament to give our emerging talent early exposure to higher levels of competition and accelerate their growth into future national team contenders. We have seen a global movement towards giving younger players an opportunity at the earliest possible age.

While the teams showed individual skill, passion and dedication – that alone is not enough. The early exit from the tournament revealed gaps in preparation, exposure, and the support structures that young players desperately need.

Football is a team sport, on and off the pitch. Talent is just the first step. Without solid systems that identify, train, and support young athletes, talent cannot flourish into competitive teams.

To that end, we are benchmarking our youth football structures against those of leading nations such as Germany, England, Morocco, and Zambia. We are also investing in data and performance analytics – including GPS tracking, video analysis, and player performance software – to better understand and improve individual and team development over time.

Coach education is a cornerstone of this transformation. We are prioritising the upskilling of grassroots and youth coaches through CAF D and C licenses, with CAF B and A certification also in the pipeline. A battery of well-trained coaches is often the difference between raw potential and national success.

We are also formalising nationwide talent identification and scouting networks, including strategies to tap into the Zimbabwean diaspora. No talented child should fall through the cracks – whether they play in Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, or Birmingham. If they are Zimbabwean and they are ready and willing to carry the national flag, we will do all we can to make that dream come true.

The Youth Football Ecosystem: A Pathway From Grassroots to Glory

Developing young players is about building a pathway that connects every level of the game – from schools and community leagues to provincial competitions and national youth teams.

Schools are the bedrock of youth football. Strengthening school competitions with proper coaching, refereeing, and equipment is a major focus. By partnering with the Ministry of Education, sports bodies, and the FIFA Football for Schools project, we aim to create a fertile ground for young talent to grow, learn, and compete.

Our grassroots structures lead us from the individual in the community to the national team. ZIFA is introducing a junior football pathway that identifies players at ward level and elevates the best to national youth structures.

To support this ecosystem, we are developing a National Youth Football Framework – set to roll out from September 2025 – backed by provincial and district audits that are already underway.
Not to be overlooked, is the critical role of private academies and clubs. These must be integrated into the national structure through a digitised registration and monitoring system using platforms that ensure transparency, quality control, and accountability such as FIFA Connect and MySAFA/Inqaku.
We are also in the process of finalising our Women’s Football Development Strategy, informed by national consultations and supported by FIFA. Our goal is to create equitable and competitive opportunities for girls across Zimbabwe.

Though infrastructure remains a challenge, we are prioritising the provision of safe spaces, quality equipment, and training resources for grassroots development. We also aim to deploy digital tools for talent tracking and scouting, ensuring that the game reaches the child in Chipinge as much as it does the one in Coventry.

Building Teams, Not Just Individuals

It’s not enough to produce talented individuals; we must build teams. We are investing in continuity and cohesion across our U17, U20, U23, and senior national teams. This includes appointing dedicated technical teams that work consistently with youth players – not just for tournaments but throughout the year.
A national playing philosophy and tactical blueprint will be developed to ensure that all players and the football ecosystem understand what it means to represent Zimbabwe – in style of play, mindset, and character. Support will include mental health services, physical conditioning, nutrition, and career guidance.
Plans are underway to establish elite high-performance centres and academies for top youth prospects. We are also expanding efforts to integrate diaspora talent, learning from successful models in Morocco and Senegal. The recent UK scouting trip led by our national Coach Michael Nees was just the beginning of this strategic push.

A Call to All Stakeholders

To the young players who gave their all at the Region 5 tournament – thank you. You are the future, and your efforts inspire us to do better.

But football development cannot happen in isolation. Parents, clubs, coaches, provincial associations, schools, sponsors – your role is vital. Sustainable youth development means investing time, resources, and expertise in structures that last beyond a single tournament or generation.

We call on the private sector to partner with us in this journey. Through corporate sponsorships and development partnerships, we can scale grassroots impact and build resilient pathways.

ZIFA will encourage community-based ownership models that empower local football communities to take the lead in developing and managing youth programmes. At the same time, we are developing monitoring systems to track progress and gather feedback from all levels of the football pyramid.

Finally, ZIFA is committed to strategic alignment with FIFA Forward and CAF Assist programmes to ensure that Zimbabwe benefits fully from the global support available for youth football.

Looking Ahead

The road to success is never easy. But with patience, partnership, and perseverance, we will build a pipeline of Warriors ready to make the nation proud.

The journey begins in the dusty fields where young girls and boys take their first shot at goal. It continues through structured coaching, consistent competition, and international exposure – until we produce teams that can compete and win for Zimbabwe.

We are not chasing quick fixes. We are building the future. Together, we will turn talent into teams – and teams into champions.

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