By OnSport Reporter
In a landmark achievement for women in Zimbabwean sport, Sithandile Khoza recently attained her Confederation of African Football (CAF) C Coaching Diploma.
This was announced by her current club Highlanders Football Club on the official Facebook. The qualification is more than just a personal milestone for Khoza but it is an inspiration to girls and women to pursue careers in a male-dominated field.
Onsport Magazine sat down with Khoza to understand where it all started for the charismatic Highlanders Royals coach.
Her journey into the heart of the game is truly inspirational. Born in rural Tsholotsho on August 1, 1979, she later moved to Bulawayo, where she settled in Pumula North.
Interestingly, while many might be familiar with her famous surname, she is indeed the sister of former Highlanders midfield maestro Sizabantu Khoza, and the two actually played for Highlanders around the same time. Ironically, they both earned the CAF diplomas in the same class. Siza, is currently in charge of the Bosso juniors.
However, her story is one of carving her own legacy. “Yes, my brother Siza inspired me, but I had to build my own name,” she explains. “Today, I am not just Siza’s sister; I am Coach Sithandile of the Highlanders Royals.”
Khoza’s love for the beautiful game was ignited on the fields of Dinyane High in Tsholotsho and Pumula High School. It was during her Form Two year, inspired by her teachers and her brother, that she began to play seriously.
This early passion evolved into a formidable playing career with the Mighty Warriors, a period she recalls with great pride. “My most memorable moment? The first call-up to the national team by Benedict Moyo,” she shares. “There is no greater honour than representing your country.”
Moyo, nicknamed “Grinder,” built a formidable outfit that pioneered women’s football in Zimbabwe. Khoza was one of those pioneers, and now she is building the next generation of women footballers in the country.
However, it is perhaps off the pitch where Khoza’s most impactful work has taken root. She dedicated twelve years of her life to Grassroot Soccer, an international non-profit organisation that uses the power of football to equip young people with life-saving information, services, and mentorship.
Her nurturing hand shaped countless young lives. “I have a deep passion for working with children and young people,” Khoza reflects. “For twelve years, my mission was to inspire and educate them with life skills through sport. Football is a powerful tool to change lives.”
Her commitment to development was further formalised in 2022 when she graduated with a diploma in Development Studies, a credential that complements her practical experience and her new CAF C license.
Beyond the coach and mentor is a person with rich inspirations, who also cherishes her role as a wife and mother. As a player, she looked up to the late local legend Blessing “Yogo Yogo” Makunike who turned out for Caps United and remains an admirer of French and Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.
Away from the pitch, she finds joy in simple pleasures. “There’s nothing like a good plate of sadza and fish after a tough session,” she says with a laugh. Her love for music, particularly the Afro-Jazz, Soul Brothers and Insimbi Zezhwane, provides the soundtrack to her life. She enjoys watching her favourite team, Highlanders, at Barbourfields Stadium and adores her daughter. Internationally, she is a Chelsea fan.
Now, as a CAF-certified coach, Sithandile Khoza carries a powerful message for the next generation. Her advice is heartfelt and direct. “My message to the youth is simple: respect yourself, your body, and others,” she urges. “Work hard, educate yourselves, and stay away from drugs.”
With a caution born from seeing too much potential wasted, she offers a stark warning to young women. “Stop early marriages. Focus on your future, because boys will destroy your future if you let them,” she concluded.
Sithandile Khoza’s CAF Diploma a Beacon for Women in Football
