ZIFA has set minimum qualifications for coaches in the Premier Soccer League as well as the lower leagues and schools.
A letter signed by Zifa chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze copied to PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele revealed the latest developments.
“Zifa hereby writes to your esteemed office and person about the coaching standardisation and standing orders.
“Please find listed the recommended qualifications in respective categories,” read part of the letter.
A national team coach should have a minimum of a Caf A licence or better. PSL coaches should have attained a Caf A licence or a Caf B licence and working towards attaining the Caf A licence.
Assistant coaches are now required to have at least a Caf C licence. Goalkeepers’ coaches in the PSL are now required to have a Caf C licence and a goalkeeper coaching certificate.
Division One coaches will now be required to have a Caf C licence or a Zifa Level 4 certificate.
Assistant coaches will now be expected to have at least a Zifa Level 4 certificate.
The Division One requirements also apply to coaches in the Second Division and those coaching in tertiary institutions, while the assistants will be required to have at least a
Caf C licence. Division 3 coaches should have a Zifa Level 3 certificate, with their assistants having a ZifaLevel 1 qualification.
Secondary school coaches will now be expected to have a Zifa Level 2 qualification,while their primary school counterparts should have at least a Level 1 certificate.
The country has 41 Caf A licence holders, which the 18 PSL clubs will have to choose from, while 144 hold Caf B licences.
There are 166 coaches with Caf C licences and about 4,000 coaches have Zifa Levels 1 – 4 coaching certificates.
The latest development might see some coaches becoming jobless as they do not hold the requisite qualifications.
Newly promoted PSL side Border Strikers was forced to look for a new coach as Never Malunga, who guided them into the topflight, does not have the minimum Caf C licence. Last season Whawha coach Luke Petros was forced to play second fiddle as he did not have the required qualifications.