ZIFA, Schools Ministry sign landmark deal

ZIFA and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education have signed a landmark partnership to integrate structured grassroots football programmes into schools nationwide (image source)

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Harare on Thursday to embed structured grassroots football programmes in schools nationwide, a move officials say will strengthen talent pathways, improve youth development and use sport to reinforce citizenship and school retention goals. The MoU creates a national framework for cooperation that will see ZIFA and MoPSE jointly implement school-based coaching, referee training, inter-school competitions and teacher capacity building, with an emphasis on reaching underserved provinces and aligning sport with educational outcomes.

Under the agreement, ZIFA will provide technical expertise, coach education and competition structures while MoPSE will integrate football activities into school timetables, facilitate access to facilities and ensure safeguarding protocols for children. Officials said the partnership aims to create a clear pipeline from school teams to district, provincial and national talent identification programmes, reducing fragmentation that has long hindered youth progression into professional ranks.

Primary and Secondary Education secretary Moses Mhike described the MoU as “the genesis of football growth in the country,” stressing that sport complements classroom learning by teaching teamwork, discipline and leadership. ZIFA leaders said the partnership marks a shift from ad hoc school tournaments to a coordinated, nationwide system that can produce technically competent players and certified coaches.

The deal addresses persistent problems: fragmented school sport calendars, weak coaching capacity and limited structured competition that often sees talented pupils drop out or fail to progress. By institutionalising football in schools, the partnership seeks not only to widen the talent base for clubs and national teams but also to promote school attendance, gender inclusion and healthy lifestyles among young people.

Officials said the programme will roll out in phases, beginning with pilot districts where ZIFA coaching and referee courses will be delivered to teachers and community coaches. Funding will come from a mix of ZIFA allocations, ministry resources and donor or private-sector partnerships to upgrade pitches, supply equipment and support transport for inter-school fixtures; specific budget lines and timelines were not disclosed at the signing ceremony.

School sport has historically been a grassroots bedrock for Zimbabwe’s sporting success, yet inconsistent support and weak governance limited its reach. Comparable national frameworks in the region have shown that school-centred talent systems can lower recruitment costs for clubs and broaden representation of rural provinces in elite sport.

“This partnership represents a new chapter for school sport in Zimbabwe.” — Moses Mhike, MoPSE.

The MoU sets a policy framework with potential to reshape Zimbabwe’s talent pipeline if followed by transparent financing, robust teacher training and regular monitoring. Observers will watch the pilots for measurable outcomes — participation rates, school retention and the number of players advancing to district teams — and expect quarterly public updates on implementation progress.