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Gibson Homela

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
A FIVE-day Fifa grassroots training programme that had been pencilled to kick start the Zifa Southern Region’s series of training and development programmes targeting coaches, administrators and referees has been postponed from today to next month.

Tumediso Mokoena Ndlovu, the Zifa regional training and development administrator, said the Fifa grassroots training programme, which will be held in Masvingo, will now start on April 12.

“The Fifa instructor meant to facilitate the programme in Masvingo communicated through the national association that he will be available to conduct the course next month, hence a decision to postpone it. The Fifa programme will go ahead and those who would have been recommended for the course will pay $80. This programme is strictly for individuals and coaches who are visible and have shown interest in grassroots training. All the details about the course are available at Zifa national offices,” said Ndlovu.

He said each province is expected to send five representatives to the Fifa training and development programme, including their provincial chairperson.

Provincial representatives should comprise four juniors’ coaches to be selected by the region in consultation with the provinces.

He said Zifa would continue with its busy schedule that has been lined-up, with an administrators’ training course starting on Thursday.

He challenged Premier Soccer League, First Division, lower divisions and aspiring administrators to attend a football administration clinic to be held at Bulawayo’s Elangeni Training Centre from March 23-28.

According to the Zifa technical programme, veteran coaching instructor Gibson Homela, retired referees Edson Nkau and Thabani Mnkantjo will be instructors for the administration course.

Ndlovu said a beginners’ coaching course, Zifa Level One will be held at Eveline High School from March 25 to April 2, with its facilitators being Homela and Philani “Beefy” Ncube.

Ndlovu encouraged youngsters to attend the programmes, saying they are the future of the game.

“This is an opportunity for young people interested in football to attend these programmes. These programmes are meant to empower youngsters. Look, almost every sector of football is covered in the calendar we have released. We’re training administrators, coaches and referees,” Ndlovu said.

The referees’ beginners’ programmes will be held in Bulawayo, Hwange and Binga between March 25 and June 25.

Aspiring referees will have to part with $40 to attend the beginners’ training.

— @ZililoR