CAF A returns to Zimbabwe in landmark coaching milestone

Fungai Muderere

ZIMBABWEAN football has every reason to celebrate after the first module of the country’s historic CAF A Licence Coaching Course was successfully completed, marking a major milestone in the rebuilding of the nation’s coaching pathway.

Hosted by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa), the intensive opening phase brought together 25 coaches from the Premier Soccer League, lower divisions, academies and development structures, with some participants also working beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.

The return of CAF A coach education to Zimbabwe is particularly significant, with the country hosting the qualification for the first time since 2017.

For a football nation that has endured a long wait for advanced coach education to return home, the completion of the first module represents more than just the end of a course phase, it is a celebration of renewed ambition and a commitment to producing better-equipped coaches for the future.

The participants were taken through a demanding programme combining classroom sessions, practical work, discussions and the sharing of experiences, giving them an opportunity to examine the modern game from different perspectives.

Among those on the course are TelOne FC head coach Joel Luphahla and Scottland assistant coach Daniel Vheremu, who is also the class captain.

The class also includes coaches from Hwange, Chicken Inn, Dynamos, Triangle United, Hardrock, Blanket Mine, Shamva Mine, Tenax CS and FC Platinum’s Under-19 set-up.

Adding an international dimension to the programme are coaches attached to Kruger FC in South Africa and Jumulo FC in Zambia.

For Luphahla, the course has reinforced the importance of continuous learning, regardless of the level at which a coach is operating.

“The game keeps changing and, as coaches, we also have to keep developing,” he said. “This module has challenged us to look at different aspects of our work in greater detail. The important thing now is to take what we are learning here and apply it in our teams and with our players.”

The CAF A Licence is the highest coaching qualification currently applicable within Zimbabwe’s domestic Premier Soccer League environment and is also important for coaches working at senior level in CAF competitions.

Its return is therefore a landmark development for the local game, giving coaches an opportunity to pursue advanced qualifications without having to leave the country.

Zimbabwe is now fully compliant with the technical requirements of the CAF Coaching Convention required to host the full coaching pathway from CAF D through to CAF A.

That achievement gives local coaches a clearer and more accessible route through formal coach education, while strengthening the foundations upon which the country’s football development can be built.

Vheremu said the intensity of the opening module had challenged the coaches but also created a valuable environment for learning and exchanging ideas. “It has been demanding, but that is exactly what you expect at CAF A level,” he said.

“There has been a lot of learning, discussion and sharing of experiences within the group. As coaches, we all want to improve, and ultimately that improvement has to be seen in the players and teams we work with.”

The course is part of Zifa’s broader drive to rebuild coach education and establish a sustainable technical pathway at every level of Zimbabwean football.

The association believes that investing in coaches will have a direct impact on player development, club football and, ultimately, the competitiveness of the national teams.

For the 25 participants, however, the first module is only the beginning.

The challenge now is to build on the knowledge gained, continue embracing the demands of the programme and translate the lessons from the classroom and practical sessions into their respective coaching environments.