Zifa's Coaching Census

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

Zifa is making a strong push to bolster the nation's coaching ranks, urging all football coaches across Zimbabwe to participate in an ongoing national survey. This initiative, aimed at updating the coaches' database, is a crucial step towards facilitating advanced coaching courses in the near future.

The national football governing body has extended the deadline for the survey to March 31, 2025, emphasizing its vital role in the development and strategic planning of coaching within the country. "The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) wishes to inform all stakeholders that the deadline for the ongoing national coaches' survey has been extended to Monday, March 31, 2025," Zifa stated in a communique. "This initiative aims to gather comprehensive information on the number of qualified coaches in Zimbabwe, their respective qualifications, current employment status and other relevant details."

Zifa highlighted the direct benefits for participating coaches, noting that the collected data will "enable those that have taken part to attend future training courses facilitated by the association." The organization is keen to create a comprehensive and up-to-date record of its coaching talent.

"Zifa encourages all coaches who have not yet participated in the survey to take this opportunity to provide their details before the revised deadline," the statement continued. "Your co-operation is vital in ensuring accurate and up-to-date records that will contribute to the growth and professionalisation of football coaching in Zimbabwe."

The survey comes at a pivotal time for Zimbabwean football. Zifa's last Caf A courses were held in 2017, and the organization has faced challenges in providing continuous professional development for its coaches. The need for qualified coaches has been underscored by recent developments, including Zifa's advertisement for coaches for various national youth teams.

The requirements for these national team positions, which call for Caf A or B licenses for head coaches and Caf B or C licenses for assistants and goalkeepers' coaches, highlight the pressing need for accessible and up-to-date coaching qualifications.

The survey is seen as a key step in rectifying this situation, paving the way for Zifa to organize and deliver the necessary courses to meet the growing demand for qualified coaches at all levels of Zimbabwean football.