The ongoing COSAFA Under-17 tournament hosted by Zimbabwe is set to leave a lasting impression across the region.
While the results on the field were not in Zimbabwe’s favor—after all, no one likes to lose—the bigger story lies in what this event signifies for the future of football in the country.
The decision by the Zimbabwe Football Association to host the tournament was both bold and visionary. It was more than just about bringing regional football to local grounds; it was about creating an opportunity for the country to hold a mirror to itself.
Hosting allowed Zimbabwe to assess its systems, benchmark against others, and identify gaps in development pathways that require urgent attention. For ZIFA, this was an investment in knowledge, structure, and the future of the game.
Zimbabwean football has endured a turbulent period, first marked by the global COVID-19 pandemic and later by the FIFA suspension that left the game isolated.
During this wilderness period, grassroots development—the lifeblood of any football nation—suffered immensely.
Proper youth structures, academies, and talent pathways were neglected, and the effects showed in the COSAFA results.
Contrast this with South Africa, which used the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a springboard to strengthen grassroots football. The legacy of that tournament still benefits South African football today.
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Zimbabwe’s COSAFA hosting, while on a smaller scale, has the potential to spark a similar trajectory if handled with vision and commitment.
Though the immediate outcomes on the pitch disappointed many fans, this tournament should be viewed as the beginning of a turnaround.
For ZIFA, this is the first major step in rebuilding football structures, restoring international credibility, and inspiring young players who now have role models to look up to. It is not the end—it is the start of something promising.
Unfortunately, not everyone celebrates progress. There are opportunists more invested in fighting ZIFA than in seeing the nation’s football thrive.
These voices, who seem to rejoice when Zimbabwean teams lose, do so only because it feeds their personal or political narratives.
Their energy is spent tearing down rather than building up. For true lovers of the game, the focus should remain on collective progress, not destructive criticism.
The COSAFA Under-17 tournament in Zimbabwe is more than just a sporting event. It is a declaration that Zimbabwe is back on the football map.
The results were a reminder of the work that lies ahead, but the hosting itself was a triumph.
With vision, investment, and unity, Zimbabwe can rebuild its grassroots systems, just as South Africa did post-2010. For ZIFA, this is a strong start—and one that must be built upon with determination and resilience.
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