Zifa Pressured to Expand Search Beyond Current Bounds
As Zimbabwe steps up its attempts to revive a strong national football squad under head coach Michael Nees, there is an increasing demand for the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to expand their recruitment scope. They should now look toward the large and frequently overlooked reservoir of talented players based in North America.
Two ex-football players currently residing in Canada, Farai Mangwiza and Darlington Choto, have joined others urging ZIFA to broaden their search from just the UK and instead explore opportunities across the Atlantic. There, numerous young Zimbabweans are thriving within advanced football training programs in both Canada and the United States.
Mangwiza, a dedicated fan of CAPS United, feels that the present approach leans excessively towards European methods. Despite recognizing the progress achieved through leveraging resources within the UK diaspora community – such as recruiting players like Tawanda Chirewa from Wolves – Mangwiza argues that there remains significant unexplored talent in North America.
“I’ve seen young players develop within programs similar to MLS academies right here, and some of them have had trials with teams such as Toronto FC,” he explained. “ZIFA needs to deploy scouts in this area or establish connections with nearby clubs and training facilities. There’s significant interest among Zimbabwean youth living here who would be eager to play for the national team, the Warriors.”
Choto, a former Zimbabwe Under-20 player and CAPS United defender, shares similar views with Mangwiza. He is currently deeply engaged in fostering youth soccer development in Ontario.
He highlights the significant progress made by the Canadian football team over the last ten years, demonstrated by their rise from position 117 to within the top 30 in the FIFA global standings, as evidence that the developmental systems they have established are yielding positive outcomes.
"There is genuine talent present here. It’s not merely about natural aptitude; these children receive technical education at an early stage. As a result, they possess tactical awareness, physical conditioning, and mental readiness," stated Choto.
He contends that because of stiff competition for spots on the Canadian national team, numerous Zimbabwean-born players might be enthusiastic about playing for their ancestral homeland instead.
Early involvement of ZIFA is crucial, whether through incorporating them into youth teams or hosting invitation-only training camps. Besides their talent, these youngsters have true Zimbabwean spirit within them.
An example of this is Tashinga Zvemhara, a young midfielder from Toronto who has just inked a professional deal with The Barrow FC. Choto feels confident that he could make his mark for Zimbabwe at the youth level, provided he gets the chance.
When asked for his opinion, ZIFA technical director Jethro Hunidzarira stated that broadening scouting activities to include North America could be beneficial. However, he declined to add more comments at the time and referred further questions to the ZIFA media department.
As the senior national squad undergoes reconstruction and younger teams require rejuvenated rosters, expanding recruitment efforts might provide ZIFA with more than just additional athletes; it could bring forth novel perspectives, innovative strategies, and a strategic advantage.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
