Zimpapers Logo

Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
ZIFA Matabeleland North province has appointed Thulani Moyo as the Under-15 provincial team coach as they go about implementing some resolutions of the association’s extraordinary general meeting held earlier this year.

Moyo (39) is a respected junior football coach in Hwange, having coached in different leagues up to Division One since 2004, with Project Warriors and two stints as the Matabeleland North coach at the National Youth Games editions of 2010 and  2013.

Zifa Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Dennis Tshuma said Moyo’s appointment is in line with the action plan passed in Harare.

“We have done our homework and looked around and came up with Thulani as our Under-15 coach in this programme, which involves all 10 provinces with the full support of Zifa, as part of efforts to lay a foundation for senior teams. Moyo has accepted the job.

“We will brief him on the finer modalities of the job on his return from the Fifa Grassroots Course in Masvingo set for next month. He will then choose his assistants from within the province’s districts,” said Tshuma.

Moyo said he is ready for the task ahead.

“I am humbled by Zifa’s choice to make me the provincial coach. I feel the experience I have gained from 2004 will help me achieve my goals and also help build future national teams,” said Moyo.

Once fully established, these provincial teams will use the format for the YES Games and National Youth Games of hosting competitions on a rotational basis annually in each province.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela affirmed the association’s full support for the initiative.

“Junior development is the bedrock of football development. We take great pride when our provinces start venturing in such noble initiatives as this will go a long way in nurturing our talent.

“It will also inevitably lead to us having strong national teams. We will fully support this initiative in various ways, as junior policy has always been part of Zifa football development policy,” said Gwesela.

— @tobymandox