The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) hosted a transformative CAF C Refresher Course at the ZIFA Village from 13 to 17 October 2025, marking a vital milestone in the country’s football education and coaching development pathway.
The programme brought together nineteen (19) coaches from various clubs, academies, and institutions, under the direct guidance of FIFA and CAF educators, in a five-day programme that blended practical training sessions with theoretical modules.
Each morning was dedicated to on-field tactical exercises, focusing on team structure, ball progression, and conditioning, whilst the afternoons delved into theoretical sessions that included modern coaching methodology, match analysis, player management, and football periodisation.
The balanced structure was designed to ensure that coaches not only meet the CAF licensing standards but also apply global best practices within Zimbabwe’s local football ecosystem.
Those who attended have now officially renewed their CAF C Licences for another three years, making them eligible to work on the technical bench during that period and paving the way for their progression to the CAF B level.
The course also provided ZIFA with a clearer picture of the technical level of local coaches, helping the federation assess areas of growth and identify emerging coaching talent ready for advanced certification.
Running concurrently with the refresher was a CAF Coach Educator Mentorship Programme, a critical development stream designed to build Zimbabwe’s own pool of certified coach educators.
Four (4) candidates, Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, Tafadzwa Mashiri, Wilson Mutekede, and Joseph Sibindi, were evaluated during their fourth phase of training and will now progress to the final phase of the mentorship.
Once complete, they will join the elite group of CAF-accredited instructors capable of training future coaches within Zimbabwe.
The course reaffirmed ZIFA’s commitment to professionalising football through knowledge, discipline, and continuous education.
Educated coaches form the foundation of every successful football nation, bringing structure, tactical understanding, and scientific methods that elevate player performance and strengthen the overall game.
A coach with modern knowledge becomes more than a tactician, they become a mentor, psychologist, analyst, and developer of talent.
By hosting this refresher, ZIFA aligned its technical development with CAF’s Club Licensing and FIFA’s global coaching conventions, ensuring that Zimbabwe remains compliant with international standards.
It also reintroduced a culture of accountability and self-improvement among coaches, many of whom had last received formal CAF training several years ago.
ZIFA has since announced that the CAF B Refresher Course is on the cards and will take place from 3 to 7 November 2025 in Harare. The federation has encouraged all eligible coaches to register and pay early, emphasising that coach education remains the most powerful investment in the future of Zimbabwean football.
As ZIFA stated in its official communication, “Every trained coach is a builder of the game. By investing in this course, you are investing in the growth of our clubs, academies, and national teams.”
The CAF C Refresher Course was not just an administrative exercise, it was a statement of intent, a reaffirmation that the growth of Zimbabwean football begins in the classroom, takes shape on the pitch, and is sustained through the professionalism of those who teach the game.
ZIFA website