Premier Soccer League chairman Farai Jere has reiterated that the local football governing body will not backtrack on issues to do with standardization which has been criticized by a number of football stakeholders.
Football standardization in Zimbabwe has been met with mixed feelings with other stakeholders that include the soccer coaches castigating some of the aspects of the move which they say have left many of their members in the cold.
Football standardization encompasses a number of aspects that include making sure that football clubs have club houses, Press and Public relations and setting a standard qualification for coaches at any given level. among others.
However, it is the setting up of a standard qualification for coaches at any given level tat has left the Zimbabwean coaching fraternity fuming and with no kind words for both PSL and the supreme football governing body in the country, Zifa.
Coaches that have CAF A licence are the ones that are allowed to be head coach at any Premiership club in the local league while those with CAF B can be employed as assistant coaches. Those with CAF B can also be head coaches at the lower tier, Division One, and the standard goes up to the lowest division in the country’s football fraternity, a move that has left many so called ‘good’ coaches out in the cold.
Speaking to 263Chat this morning, PSL chairman Jere said the association will not backtrack on standardization.
“We have had a number of people calling for lenience over this issue, but tell you what, as a principled association, we are not going to backtrack on this. These courses were done time and again here in Zimbabwe but people chose not to further their qualifications that time. This will actually belittle our league as compared to other leagues in the region. Look at all the leagues that have taken standardization seriously, they are playing and running their leagues exceptionally, why not us? queried Jere.
However, the coaches, through their associations have registered displeasure over the time period that has been taken before CAF courses have been conducted in the country.
“We don’t have any problems in furthering our qualifications as long as they avail the opportunities. But what has been worrying us is the time that has been taken before any CAF course has been conducted in the country. We have a number of coaches that are due for next levels but the courses are not readily available. But remember this is a profession where people look forward to earning a living from. What do we do next? asked one of the coaches who visited 263Chat offices recently.
Asked about the reason why the association was not doing much to have these courses done in the country, Jere directed questions about courses to Zifa.
“I think it is not the prerogative of PSL to answer on behalf of Zifa, these issues are dealt with by Zifa. I know very well that I represent my constituency (PSL) in the Zifa board, but I can’t answer on their behalf,” Jere added.
The PSL boss called on veteran coaches that include Moses ‘Bambo’ Chunga, who have other qualifications to come fourth and have their qualifications validated to see what they are worth in terms of Zimbabwean football so that they can get employment.
“I think we need to consider our legends as well. I therefore challenge all those legends that have any form of qualification that they could have got from somewhere to come fourth and have our Zifa technical director to validate the qualification in terms of Zimbabwean football statutes and see where they rank,”Jere said.
