Poor coaching at root of Zim junior football woes

Patience Muchemwa- Senior Reporter

Backlyfield Chivenga, the head coach of St George's College football team, has pinpointed inadequate coaching at club and academy levels as the fundamental reason behind the persistent struggles of Zimbabwe's national junior football teams.

In a frank assessment, Chivenga argues that while national team coaches often face scrutiny for on-field results, the core issue lies in the insufficient development of players at the grassroots level.

"We are quick to judge national team coaches based on match outcomes," Chivenga stated, "but the real work, or the lack of it, happens long before a player pulls on a national jersey." He emphasized that national coaches inherit players whose foundational training has often been compromised.

"Many come into camp with major technical flaws that should have been addressed with proper academy coaching."

A key concern highlighted by Chivenga is the prolonged absence of updated coaching education in Zimbabwe. "There’s been a long absence of coaching courses, leaving grassroots coaches out of sync with modern football methodologies." While acknowledging the growth in the number of academies and clubs, he stressed that the quality of coaching has not kept pace.

"Over 98% of players are being coached by individuals who haven't upgraded their skills in over a decade. Passion alone is insufficient without proper education."

Chivenga warned that this neglect forces national team coaches to dedicate valuable time to basic technique correction rather than advanced tactical preparation for international competitions.

Drawing comparisons with successful football nations like Germany and Japan, he emphasized their strategic investment in comprehensive coach education systems as a cornerstone of their national team success.

"We need more coaching courses, more refreshers, and a national commitment to developing our coaches," Chivenga asserted. "That’s where quality players will come from.

There is no shortcut." He concluded with a stark reminder: "You can’t expect better players to come out of a poor coaching environment. We have talent, but without the knowledge to shape it, we will continue to fall behind."