OnSport Reporter
Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association (ZISCA) has decried the Zimbabwe Football Association’s (ZIFA) Caf C course fees saying they are prohibitive.
Zifa announced the return of Caf coaching courses last week, calling for participants in a Caf C course scheduled for next month.
The course fee, pegged at US$580 per person, has caused a huge outcry among coaches who said the figure is “too high.”
Zisca vice-chairperson, Philani Mabhena said they are concerned with the high fees considering their members are under-paid and struggling financially.
He said they have engaged Zifa over the issue and are hoping for some reprieve.
“We feel the fees should be lowered to $400 although it is still steep but as a way of meeting each other half way with the association, we think this figure will be a bit fair. We appreciate the return of the courses as we have been patiently waiting for them but most coaches might fail to take part due to the cost factor,” said Mabhena.
The last continental football governing body course held in the Zimbabwe was the Caf A, which was held in 2017 and coaches have been forced to attend the course outside the country.
The legendary Peter Ndlovu is doing his Caf A course in Tanzania, where local coaches Thulani “Toots” Sibanda, Try Ncube and Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi did theirs.
Zifa technical director, Jethro Hunidzarira said they are sticking to the initial figure as it was informed by a budget they crafted.
He said Zifa requested the coaches to submit their own budget to see if their proposed fee was viable.
“We made the budget considering the various elements involved that includes instructors fees, venue hire, food and travelling,” said Hunidzarira.
He said the main import of the Caf C course being hosted in June is for Caf to assess local instructors that include Zifa coach educator, Joseph Sibindi, Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, former Zifa technical director, now Bikita Minerals gaffer Wilson Muteketede and Tafadzwa Mashiri.
The Zifa technical director said one Caf gives them the thumbs up, they will gear up or more courses with up to three scheduled before the end of the year.
Elsewhere in the region, South Africa’s Safa has pegged their Caf C fees at 6 750 rand while the BFA of Botswana’s course will run for 6 500 pula whilst in Zambia’s FAZ it’s $500.
Coaches unhappy with Caf C fees
