ZIFA Expands Coaching Development with CAF D Courses in Bulawayo and Mutare

ZIFA’s drive to strengthen coaching standards across Zimbabwe continues with CAF D courses in Bulawayo and Mutare, bringing together 76 participants as the Association invests in the people responsible for developing the next generation of footballers.

The Bulawayo course has attracted 38 participants, including three women, while a further 38 participants, including four women, are taking part in Mutare. The two courses form part of an ongoing coach education exercise aimed at widening access to training and improving the quality of coaching throughout the country.

For ZIFA, increasing the number of qualified coaches must go hand in hand with ensuring that players receive better guidance, particularly during the formative stages of their development. The ambition is to equip more coaches with the knowledge and confidence to turn their passion for football into effective teaching on the training ground.

ZIFA Technical Director Dominique Niyonzima emphasised that the exercise is about both expanding Zimbabwe’s coaching pool and raising standards.

“We want to increase the number of qualified coaches in Zimbabwe, but numbers alone will not deliver the progress we need. We must also improve the quality of coaching that our players receive. A young player’s development depends greatly on the guidance they get, and that is why we are continuing to invest in coach education across the country,” said Niyonzima.

“Through these courses, we want coaches to become more confident, more thoughtful and better equipped to help players learn. The real value of this exercise will be seen when participants return to their communities and apply that knowledge consistently.”

The participation of seven women across the two venues is also encouraging as ZIFA works towards broader involvement in coaching. Building a stronger football system requires opportunities for more women to develop their expertise and contribute to the game at different levels.

Holding courses in different centres supports the Association’s efforts to extend coach education beyond a single location and strengthen the foundations of football in communities across Zimbabwe.

The CAF D courses provide an entry point into formal coaching education, while reinforcing the importance of continued learning. For participants, the responsibility extends beyond completing the course to putting their training into practice.

As ZIFA continues this exercise, the objective remains clear: more qualified coaches, better coaching and improved opportunities for players to fulfil their potential. Each coach developed represents another opportunity to positively influence the future of Zimbabwean football, one player and one community at a time.

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