FORMER Highlanders coach Mohammed Fathi is in the country to establish a football foundation in partnership with Bulawayo businessman and player agent Omega Sibanda.
Thandiwe Moyo Sports Correspondent
Southern Eye caught up with the Egyptian national at Barbourfields Stadium during the How Mine-St Michel United match yesterday.
“I am visiting, but I also think that this country needs a football foundation. I am here to establish a foundation for players between six and 18 years,” he said.
He said he just finished a Caf A licence in Zambia and he was targeting clubs in that country and in Zimbabwe to establish the foundation.
Fathi said the first foundations will be established in Bulawayo and Harare after which they will spread countrywide.
“We are still concluding everything and that includes my paperwork. It will be a good thing for everyone. Zimbabwe has a lot of talent and although there is need for experience there is also need for development of the sport,” he said.
Fathi said a number of countries that include South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana have established foundations to develop football at grassroots level.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“The foundation will also be attached to a number of European clubs.
“I cannot say at the moment when we will conclude the paperwork, but in a couple of weeks I am sure we will be done. We want to build a strong disciplined football generation,” he said.
The Egyptian gaffer confirmed that he was working on the foundation in partnership with Sibanda.
He said there were a number of aspects they were looking at which include nutrition and physique of the players as well as the theory and practical side of the game.
Sibanda who was also at Barbourfields confirmed the partnership.
“I can confirm that the foundation is getting started. We have submitted paperwork to Zifa and other organisations. Our aim is to establish a foundation for six to 16-year-olds at first. We want a good seven year programme. We plan to catch them young.
The foundation will have links in Africa and outside the continent.
“The base has already been established and we are in the process of recruiting local coaches,” he said.
Sibanda emphasised the fact that the coaches had to be strictly junior coaches.
“We have shortlisted three coaches and a goalkeeper’s trainer and I should point out that these are strictly coaches for junior players,” he said.
Fathi took over at Bosso from Madinda Ndlovu in 2009, but left mid-season in 2010 with then assistant Mkhuphali Masuku in charge.
