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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
CRANBORNE Bullets coach Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera says the visit by Irish coach Alan Nixon for a five-day coaching course at BN Academy starting on Monday in Harare is a positive move in efforts to equip upcoming players with the latest trends of football.

Nixon, a Uefa Pro Licence holder, has previously conducted coaching courses for the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association.

He is expected in the country over the weekend and will lead a five-day programme with the academy’s players and coaches set to benefit from the coaching course.

And Saruchera said the Irishman’s visit to this part of the world is good for our football.

“He is very experienced and knowledgeable about football. I have attended two to three refresher courses that he did. Tactically, he is very good and knowledgeable coach. It’s good for our football,” said Saruchera.

Saruchera also said such initiatives are important for the development of the game and noted that the current situation whereby junior development is not taken seriously is a major setback.

“Normally I don’t want to talk much on the administrative side, but we are lagging behind in terms of development. We need to have a (functional) structure, we need to see the Peter Ndlovus of today playing from junior to senior teams,” said Saruchera.

BN Academy director Bhekimpilo Nyoni said they have had positive experiences through their interaction with coaches from outside the country which has helped in the improvement of their players.

“It has been a great pleasure to have gone overseas and work with Uefa coaches. It came to my mind that if I invest in bringing these coaches this will benefit more our local academy coaches as they will be exchanging notes. This will also benefit our academy players in their development technically and tactically.

“In December 2017, Ahmed Ali of West Bromwich Albion Academy came, in April 2018 Grant Brown of Football CV Academy UK and now Alan Nixon is starting this Monday.

“As the director of the BN Academy I have seen change in the approach by my coaches to more professional and endeavour to see more. It should be noted that these coaches don’t come cheap, but the benefits outweigh the investment,” said Nyoni.

FC Platinum head coach development, Jacob Chavhungama, said engaging experts is the way to go.

“Naturally, the most important thing for developing a player is to expose them. And the normal situation will be to make sure they go outside the country to leading elite leagues, in particular Europe because that is the main market we target where there is rich value in terms of rewards for any aspiring player.”