The Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League is taking a bold step towards improving technical standards by refusing to register and issue accreditation cards to unqualified coaches.
In an exclusive interview with Fanzone League Administrator Fungai Munyoro-Chingaira said the upcoming 2026 campaign will see them freeze out unqualified coaches.
”The region will only register and issue accreditation cards to properly qualified coaches,” said Munyoro-Chingaira.
She urged clubs to enroll their coaching staff in coaching courses.
”At the same time, we strongly encourage all teams to enroll their technical staff in the various coaching courses being conducted across the country,” added Munyoro-Chingaira.
This move comes after Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Technical Director Dominique Niyonzima reportedly instructed all affiliated leagues to accredit only qualified coaches, with those lacking the minimum CAF recognized certification facing unemployment.
Several coaches in the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League are already feeling the impact, including reigning coach of the year Blessing Madombi, who according to an anonymous source was relieved of his duties at Tenax Correctional Services Football Club.
However, there’s a silver lining – a new wave of coaches and former players are attaining coaching badges, including Clifford Dzvairo, who attained his CAF B in Tanzania last year, and Stephen Makatuka and Ackim Gwaendepi, who obtained their CAF C coaching licenses in South Africa in December 2025.
ZIFA is prioritizing technical education and capacity building, with initiatives like CAF coaching clinics and refresher courses.
The association had last held a CAF coaching clinic in 2017 before a recent resurgence, with a CAF C licensing course held in June 2025, followed by CAF B Refresher Courses in November 2025.
As Niyonzima emphasized during the CAF B Refresher Course in November 2025, “ZIFA continues to prioritise technical education and capacity building as fundamental pillars of football development in Zimbabwe. Through initiatives such as the CAF B Refresher Course, the association seeks to maintain a strong network of qualified coaches who can implement best practices across all levels of the game. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive their updated CAF B certification, reaffirming ZIFA’s commitment to professionalism, continuous improvement and the growth of Zimbabwean football.”
This crackdown though, sudden might prove to be a step in the right direction for Zimbabwean football, and it will be exciting to see the impact it will have on the sport’s development.
The League’s stance sends a clear message: it’s time to level up or step aside.
