Course Complete, Standards Raised.

After a demanding and deeply engaging week at ZIFA Village, the CAF A Coaches Refresher Course has officially drawn to a close.

For seven days, some of the country’s most respected football minds embarked on what can best be described as a practical and theoretical odyssey, guided by ZIFA Technical Director Dominique Niyonzima. The programme blended classroom-based learning with intensive on-field sessions, challenging participants to reflect, adapt and refine their approaches ahead of the new domestic season.

The week culminated in a closing ceremony attended by ZIFA Vice President Kennedy Ndebele, who presented certificates of attendance and participation to the coaches. Among those in attendance throughout the week were high-profile figures from the local game, including Norman Mapeza, Calisto Pasuwa, Tonderai Ndiraya, Kelvin Kaindu and Jairos Tapera. Their presence reflected both the stature of the course and the seriousness with which coach development is being treated at this stage of the football calendar.

The timing of the refresher programme was deliberate. With Zimbabwe’s Premier Soccer League season set to kick off at the beginning of March, clubs are finalising squads, polishing tactical systems and sharpening match fitness. By investing in the continuous professional development of coaches, ZIFA has sought to ensure that the technical leadership within clubs evolves alongside the demands of the modern game.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Niyonzima reflected on the spirit of the programme.

“This was not simply a refresher in name,” he said. “It was an opportunity for experienced coaches to challenge themselves and each other. The modern game is evolving quickly. If we are to compete regionally and continentally, our technical leaders must remain current, adaptable and innovative.” He emphasised that coach education is not a once-off event, but an ongoing process that requires humility and commitment. “What we have seen this week is encouraging – openness, engagement and a willingness to grow. That culture of learning is what ultimately translates into better training sessions and better matches.”

For Vice President Ndebele, the conclusion of the course represented more than the distribution of certificates. It symbolised a strategic direction.

“As an Association, we are clear that the quality of our leagues begins with the quality of our coaches,” said Ndebele. “When coaches are well-prepared, organised and confident in their methods, the players respond, the teams improve and the spectacle becomes better for supporters.” He added that ZIFA’s broader vision is anchored in raising standards across all tiers of the game. “We want to see an uplift not only in the Premier Soccer League, but across our First Division and development leagues as well. Continuous upskilling and structured training of coaches is central to that ambition.”

As the coaches depart with certificates in hand, the true measure of the course will not be the week just concluded, but the months that follow. If the intensity, openness and professionalism displayed at ZIFA Village translate onto the pitch, Zimbabwe’s domestic game stands to benefit significantly. In the end, the closing ceremony marked not an end, but a beginning – a renewed commitment to excellence from the touchline outward.

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