Zimbabwe Football Development Academy- Centre of Football Excellence

ms and academies must have a robust system working in partnership with ZIFA in order to achieve the national objectives. As we know ZIFA is a big body which relies on us on the ground to deliver by producing players at the grassroots level” said Morris. For a very long time grassroots football has been ignored as there is no money generated by young players as Castle Premier league teams focus on their few resourses to sustain themselves in the business of football. However this may sound bad but in any business where there is no profit no one will invest their capital as there is no collateral security. Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association chairperson and founding director of BN Academy, Bhekimpilo Nyoni, has called upon Zimbabwe Football Association(Zifa) to come up with a blue print in the development of football in the country. As we write Zimbabwe Football Development Academy has a blueprint adopted from La Masia in Spain which they will be launching in Zimbabwean schools to assist ZIFA to improve and advance their methods of coaching to coaches by highlighting the crisis in grassroots football. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have been involved with the grassroots football for years as the evidence goes back to years when Nwaku Kanu was a teenager when they won the Under 17 World Cup. Their system has been consistent ever since the mid 90s as they continued producing talent as they recently won the World Cup Under 17 once again with players like Kelechi Iheanacho who is now a Manchester City player. At Barcelona they have a very good system which developed the likes of Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Fabregas, Pique, and Messi all from the Catalunya side who have advanced the Dutch total football into something out of this world. It might sound easy but takes a committed coach and parent to train children as this can be daunting as you do not see the results immediately but for the coming ten years of young player development. Since independence our system worked for a short period only when German Coach Reinhard Fabish was appointed. He had a clear work ethic with the Dream team which could have been carried forward if we had players willing to learn at that time. Credit must also go to Sunday Marimo and Ian Gorowa who have tried under difficult circumstances but now we need to focus on the future game which even the Brazil and England teams discovered at the last World Cup in Brazil 2014 that football evolve with innovative, tactical and strategic coaches. As we target the Qatar World Cup 2022 and Zimbabwe World Cup 2034, I do agree and support Cde Muzembi in his quest for the tournament but it begins with us coaches preparing our young players for the big occasion which Zimbabwe Football Development Academy- Centre of football Excellence 2014, is fully equipped with expert coaches to make our dream a reality. Zimbabwe Football Development Academy has a page and a You tube channel dedicated to our football which can be publicly accessed for the development of our coaches and young players. Our Motto is that let the teachers teach education and let the academy coaches deliver sessions. Our centres will help children from poor backgrounds with free sessions as this is their community project to keep the youths away from drugs, crime and early childhood pregnancies. Our coaches will also focus on children who come from abusive relationship giving them time and space from the tensions at home by listening and providing emotional support where it is needed. Mr Nyoni thinks football for young players must only be played during holidays however at Zimbabwe Football Development Academy we feel young players must learn football concurrently with education as physical health is a need for their development and growth and must learn football alongside other subjects at school and enjoy their holidays with their families if they are not participating in tournaments. This will come as good news to John Phiri who is currently responsible for Youth Development at ZIFA. Academy News.