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Sports Reporter
THE country’s first ever Children’s Soccer League which will cater for Under-8, 10 and 12s gets the ball rolling by holding a two-day coaching workshop at the Heath Streak Multi-Sport Academy from tomorrow to Sunday.The Bulawayo Children’s Soccer League, running in collaboration with the Brazilian Football Institute, was launched last week at the Heath Streak Multi-Sport Academy having received blessings from Zifa and the National Association of Primary Schools Heads (Naph).

Because of specialised training needed for coaches that will deal with the “vulnerable age-groups”, Dalubuhle Bhebhe, the brains behind the League, said the workshop would enlighten participants on how to handle the Under-8, 10 and 12s.

“Capacity building workshops are key and effective if we’re to have a vibrant League. Our targets for these free staff development programmes are primary school teachers and juniors’ coaches. We will also have to train administrators and referees before the start of the 2015 season,” said Bhebhe.

The Bulawayo Children’s Soccer League, which will start next year, has been formed to organise playing structures for academies, schools and clubs. It will also act as a feeder for the Zifa Bulawayo Junior league.

The Under-8 age-group will play five-a-side with the Under-10s competing in seven-a-side while the Under-12s will play nine versus nine.

For easy implementation, each zone will have its own league where they will compete in. They will then have two festivals per year where all participants will compete and scouts will be on the lookout for talent.