Sithembinkosi L Jiyane
Sports Reporter
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has unveiled an ambitious new vision for the development of football in the country, focusing on technical growth, youth empowerment, and long-term sustainability.
At the centre of this transformative agenda is ZIFA’s newly appointed Head of Technical, Mr Dominique Niyonzima, who was officially introduced to the media at Tendeseka Park in Harare.
Technical development is being positioned as the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s football revival, with priorities including youth and women’s football, coach education, grassroots competitions, and talent identification.
The agenda is designed to strengthen pathways for players and coaches, with the ultimate goal of returning Zimbabwe to its rightful place among Africa’s footballing nations.
ZIFA Vice-President Loveness Mukura emphasized the significance of Niyonzima’s appointment.
“Football development is not an event, but a long-term process that requires vision, perseverance, and commitment.”
“We believe Dominique brings the expertise and passion needed to guide our technical agenda. Together, we want to build pathways for every talented young boy and girl in Zimbabwe to dream and to excel.”
Niyonzima outlined his immediate priorities, noting both challenges and opportunities within the local football landscape.
“Zimbabwe has immense footballing talent, but we need stronger systems to nurture it.”
“We are reintroducing coaching courses, launching youth competitions in all provinces, and creating a national talent identification platform. Every child deserves a chance, no matter where they come from. Our mission is to ensure that football development becomes inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with international best practice”,he said.
Recent milestones include the reintroduction of Cofederation of African Football (CAF) coaching courses after seven years, the submission of a Technical Long-Term Development Plan, and the adoption of a dedicated women’s football strategy.
From January, youth competitions will roll out across all ten provinces, covering age groups from Under-13 to Under-20, with scouting designed to feed into national teams.
Plans are also underway to appoint regional and provincial technical directors, expand partnerships with schools and academies, and establish a national football philosophy linking youth football with the senior game.
ZIFA believes these steps will lay the foundation for a competitive football ecosystem capable of producing top-tier players and coaches.
Mukura stressed the importance of collaboration for the success of the initiative.
“We cannot achieve this alone. We need the support of government, FIFA, CAF, our clubs, schools, and the wider football family. If we all play our part, Zimbabwean football will rise again.”
With strong technical leadership now in place, ZIFA’s mission to restore Zimbabwe’s footballing pride is officially underway, driven by vision, stability, and perseverance.
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