ZIFA Launches FIFA-Supported All-Women CAF C Coaching Course to Strengthen Women’s Football

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has taken another significant step in advancing women’s football with the commencement of an all-women CAF C Coaching Course at ZIFA Village, made possible through the FIFA Coach Education Scholarship Programme.

The opening block of the course runs from 13 to 19 July, with the remaining modules scheduled to take place over the coming months. The initiative forms part of FIFA’s global commitment to increasing the number of qualified female coaches working in football by supporting Member Associations to deliver women-only coaching courses in line with their respective confederation coaching conventions.

The programme also directly supports the objectives of the ZIFA Women’s Football Strategy, particularly under the strategic pillar, Striving for Excellence, which focuses on strengthening national team performances through the development of high-performance pathways. Central to this vision is refining competitions, improving talent identification, investing in coach education and raising welfare standards to give Zimbabwe a sustained competitive edge on the continental and global stage.

The course has brought together 30 aspiring female coaches from across Zimbabwe, with every football region represented. Participants come from a wide range of football backgrounds, reflecting the growing depth of the women’s game in the country.

Among the class are former national team players, including two former Mighty Warriors captains, two Olympians and three additional former senior women’s national team players. The cohort also includes members of national team technical staff, coaches from the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League, Division One and provincial leagues, BancABC Roots Impact Programme provincial teams, as well as school football coaches.

All participants previously completed their CAF D Licence in their respective provinces, with many having benefited from the coach education legacy programme delivered during the CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament for the COSAFA Zone, which Zimbabwe hosted last year. The progression to CAF C represents the next stage in building a strong and sustainable pathway for women in coaching.

The latest course will significantly increase the number of qualified female coaches in Zimbabwe. The country currently has one female CAF A Licence coach, four CAF B Licence coaches, 10 CAF C Licence coaches and 47 CAF D Licence coaches, with three of the CAF C graduates currently enrolled on the CAF B Coaching Course.

The programme is being facilitated by ZIFA Technical Director Dominique Niyonzima alongside Mighty Warriors Head Coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji” Sibanda. Earlier this year, Sibanda graduated with a Diploma in FIFA Coach Education, becoming one of the few female CAF Elite Instructor graduates on the African continent.

Speaking at the start of the course, Sibanda said the programme represented far more than a coaching qualification.

“This course is about creating opportunities for women to lead the game from the technical area. Every coach here has the potential to influence players, communities and the future of Zimbabwean football. We want to equip them with modern coaching knowledge, confidence and leadership skills so they can make a lasting impact wherever they serve. It is encouraging to see women from every region of the country coming together with a shared passion for developing the game.”

She added that coach education remains one of the most effective ways of raising standards throughout the football ecosystem.

“The more qualified female coaches we develop, the stronger our player pathways become. Today’s participants are tomorrow’s mentors, educators and national team coaches. This investment will benefit Zimbabwean football for many years to come.”

The all-women CAF C Coaching Course reinforces ZIFA’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for women within football while ensuring that coach development remains a key pillar of the Association’s long-term technical strategy.

Through continued collaboration with FIFA and CAF, ZIFA is building a stronger coaching framework that will enhance player development, strengthen women’s football structures and help produce the next generation of coaches capable of competing at the highest level.

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