Whistle, Wallet, Whiplash: The sports paywalls hit...

Whistle, Wallet, Whiplash: The sports paywalls hit Zim

Patience Muchemwa—Senior Reporter

Zimbabwe’s push to professionalize sport is undeniable. Coaching and technical official courses are being rolled out with fanfare—but also with price tags that sting in the local economy.

ZIFA has made refresher courses mandatory for all CAF-licensed coaches. This October and November, the courses will cost US$300 apiece, earning a three-year accreditation that keeps coaches eligible for the dugout. For ZIFA, it’s not red tape: CAF’s Coaching Convention demands regular upgrading across the continent.

In principle, Zimbabwe is not being singled out. Across Africa and beyond, professionalization comes at a cost:

South Africa: CAF refresher courses typically range from US$250 to US$400, often cushioned by subsidies from SAFA or sponsors.
Kenya & Nigeria: Coaches pay around US$200–US$350, with federations sometimes staggering payments or tying them to club support.
Europe: UEFA demands continual upgrades, with Pro License fees climbing into the thousands of dollars. But in many cases, national federations or clubs underwrite the bulk of costs.

The global standard is clear: no upgrading, no coaching. The Zimbabwean difference is that here, the full financial load falls directly on individual coaches, with little to no institutional support.

Local coach Prosper Manzungu calls both the pricing and the timing questionable. “How does ZIFA come up with that figure? It’s more than the original course. And many of us will be tied up with league and national games in October and November. Consultation is needed.”

The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) is also moving. Its World Athletics Level 1 Technical Officials Course (TOECS), set for October 24–26 in Harare, costs US$200. Participants get meals, training from international experts, and official certification.

NAAZ president Tendai Tagara insists the course is a must: “Zimbabwe needs more qualified officials. This is not just about personal growth—it’s about raising standards nationally and internationally.”

But grassroots coach Lloyd Tawanda Zindo says the cost still cuts too deep: “It should be free, and they should also reach rural areas. Otherwise, only those in towns benefit.”

The bigger picture

Courses like these do raise standards. More qualified coaches and officials mean sharper competition, better-groomed athletes, and international compliance.

Yet, affordability remains the wall. Grassroots coaches struggle to raise the fees. Progression beyond Level 2 is often bottlenecked by quotas. Selection politics sidelines deserving coaches. And younger voices are muffled by entrenched committees.

Globally, the message is clear: stay updated or fall behind. Zimbabwean sport is not crying foul at the principle—it’s the execution that bites. Without subsidies, timing flexibility, or grassroots outreach, professionalization risks becoming a paywall rather than a pathway.