In a bid to revitalise Zimbabwean football, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Jethro Hunidzarira as the new technical director, succeeding Wilson Mutekede.
With a wealth of experience as a former Zimbabwe Saints player and holder of a CAF A licence, Hunidzarira brings a fresh perspective to the role, having spent the past two decades honing his coaching skills in Botswana.
At his unveiling on Tuesday, Hunidzarira wasted no time outlining his vision for the future of Zimbabwean football, with a particular focus on grassroots development.
He stressed the importance of establishing a robust grassroots structure, starting from regional to provincial levels and culminating in national leagues.
“We need a proper grassroots structure where we have leagues at every level, supported by well-trained coaches,” Hunidzarira emphasised. “To achieve this, we’ll collaborate closely with the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to harness young talent effectively.”
Highlighting the significance of partnerships, Hunidzarira revealed plans to establish Memorandums of Understanding with key ministries to streamline grassroots development initiatives.
He emphasised the need for talent identification at the junior level, proposing the deployment of talent scouts across provinces to feed into a national network.
Furthermore, Hunidzarira proposed the creation of centres of excellence in each province, providing young players with regular opportunities to compete and hone their skills.
Selected talents will then have the opportunity to enrol in schools of excellence, where they can combine academics with high-level football training.
“We aim to develop a pipeline of talent that feeds into our national teams,” Hunidzarira explained. “Ultimately, we envision establishing a ZIFA national academy to nurture the best players across all age groups.”
With his comprehensive grassroots football plan and dedication to talent development, Hunidzarira’s appointment signals a new era of hope and ambition for Zimbabwean football, laying the foundation for future success on both the domestic and international stages.
- Grab your own copy of your latest ZimGospel Masters Magazine.
- Don’t forget to like and follow our Facebook page and our YouTube Channel to get to know of our content.
