Zimbabwe’s football is struggling across all levels. The Warriors, Mighty Warriors, and our youth teams all enjoy the dubious honour of assured early exits in regional and international competitions.
This year only the Under 17 Girls managed to go past the COSAFA group stages. The Mighty Warriors fell to Angola in the first round of the WAFCON qualifiers, and our clubs were knocked out early in CAF competitions. Fans have grown frustrated, blaming the coaches.
But other voices say coaching is just one part of a much larger issue. Adomsi Mukwasi Makosi, president of the Zimbabwe Football Supporters Association, believes there is no clear direction in the way the country plays football.
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“Every coach brings their own style because we do not have a national football philosophy. Without a unified system, our teams lack consistency and identity,” she said.
Former ZWPSL player Vonai Mhiti, who once played for ZRP Harare, echoed the same view. “The talent is there, especially among young players, but development is not structured. Players need proper guidance from an early age to reach their full potential,” she said.
Backlyfield Chivenga, assistant coach for the Under 17 team during last month’s COSAFA tournament, pointed out that preparation time is often too short. “We assembled the team just weeks before the competition. We need more time and support to train, scout, and build combinations that work,” he explained.
For many fans, the situation is painful. One fan, who identified herself only as Mai Takue, said, “We love our teams, but we are tired of seeing the same results. We keep changing coaches, but nothing changes on the field.”
The challenges are deep: weak infrastructure, poor grassroots systems, and little investment in youth development. Until these areas are fixed, results will continue to disappoint.
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