A major crisis is brewing in Chimanimani at Rusitu Tigers as the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League’s refusal to accredit their coach, Patrick Sithole, threatens to derail their participation in the 2026 season.
Sithole, a seasoned coach with an impressive track record, led the Tigers to a respectable fifth-place finish in the 2025 campaign, with Ndima Stadium in Chimanimani proving to be a formidable fortress under his guidance.
Prior to joining Rusitu Tigers, Sithole had also coached FC Hunters, leading them to a fourth-place finish in the 2024 Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League campaign.
According to sources close to the club, the owner is caught between a rock and a hard place, facing pressure to replace Sithole with a coach holding at least a CAF D coaching license, as mandated by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
The local motherboard advised all its affiliates not to accredit unqualified coaches starting this year going forward.
”Our hands are tied,” a high-ranking club official revealed to Fanzone. “The league is adamant that Sithole doesn’t meet the required qualifications, despite his vast experience and success in the region.”
Sithole holds a CAF Level 4 Advanced coaching badge obtained in 2007, a course held in Zimbabwe under the supervision of the Zimbabwe Football Association.
The certificate bears the signatures of then CAF president Issa Hayatou and Ben Koufie, who was the Director of the course.
However, ZIFA is not recognizing it. “It’s a catch-22 situation,” the official added. “Sithole has done everything by the book, but the rules seem to have changed mid-game.”
The club owner is reportedly considering pulling out of the league this season and funding Sithole’s coaching education, with plans to return stronger next season. “We believe in Sithole and his ability to take our project to the next level,” the source said. “He’s the right man for the job, and we’re willing to invest in him.”
Rusitu Tigers FC has already paid their affiliation fees, and the league kicks off in just a month.
Will they pull out, or find a way to resolve the crisis?
