Following the conclusion of the African Schools Continental Championships at Gateway High School, Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) President Nqobile Magwizi has reaffirmed the association's commitment to long-term talent development, despite a challenging tournament for the nation's youth sides. The Zimbabwe Under-15 boys’ team exited the competition yesterday after finishing the group stage with two draws and a defeat. Similarly, the girls’ team bowed out following a 1-0 loss to the DRC and a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Zambia.
While the results on the pitch were disappointing, Magwizi maintained a positive outlook, emphasizing that international exposure is the only way to gauge the standard of Zimbabwean football. “The more competitions we participate in, the better we become in identifying our problems and seeing areas where we need to improve,” Magwizi said. He further explained that these matches serve as a diagnostic tool for the association, stating, “So it helps us to develop our capacity as a football nation, but also it allows us to see our weaknesses, and from those weaknesses, we can then improve ourselves going into the future.”
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Magwizi revealed a comprehensive strategy to overhaul the country’s youth systems under the guidance of technical director Dominique Niyonzima. ZIFA is currently strengthening development structures across all age groups, with specific plans to establish provincial centres of excellence. Elaborating on the tiered system, Magwizi said: “Our broader vision is to make sure that we have centres of excellence per province, and from provinces we also must have a centre of excellence for the national teams.”
The ZIFA president also highlighted that hosting continental events brings benefits that extend beyond the ninety minutes of play. He noted that the tournament served as a catalyst for capacity building through several side initiatives, including junior journalist training, medical courses, refereeing programmes, and coaching clinics. Magwizi believes these programs ensure the tournament leaves a lasting legacy, helping the country grow holistically.
Looking back, Magwizi believes the successful hosting of this tournament, following the GIFT Cup and the COSAFA Under-17s last year, proves that Zimbabwe is regaining its status in the international community. “Last year we hosted a few tournaments, including the GIFT Cup and the Cosafa Under-17s. It was a successful programme, and there has been clear progression from last year to this year,” Magwizi said. Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that Zimbabwe is now ready to take on even bigger responsibilities on the continental stage.
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