Harare — THE Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association, eager to play a meaningful role in the welfare of players, have engaged a local legal firm to assist their members with contractual matters affecting their line of duty.

Zisca chairman Bekhimpilo Nyoni yesterday said that his organisation will now work with Chadyiwa and Associates legal practitioners, who will provide legal services to their members.

The development comes as coaches in the country have continued to suffer at the hands of their employers, with some being fired under unclear circumstances without receiving any benefits for the contribution they would have made to the clubs.

Nyoni said the law firm would also try and help their members when signing contracts.

"Some coaches feel that they get into the contracts without a full understanding of the nature of the contracts and in most cases they do not have enough time to read and understand the contents of the contract they would have signed.

"Some coaches are fired without getting any benefits for their contributions.

"We are hopping to have a nationwide workshop to discuss some of the labour laws so that they have an understanding of the laws," Nyoni said.

The memorandum of agreement signed between the soccer coaches association and Chadyiwa and Associates states that the firm will provide legal services to Zisca members on soccer related issues.

"These should include review of contracts of employment and protection of coaches' legal rights upon termination of their contracts.

"The parties further agreed that coaches would engage Chadyiwa and Associates as individuals with the knowledge of their association and upon rendering the services.

"Chadyiwa and Associates will raise its invoice and forward it to Zisca who shall facilitate payment from the same," reads part of the agreement.

Zifa have also thrown their weight behind the Zisca activities and have sent a circular to their affiliates notifying them that with effect from July 1, non-registered coaches will not be allowed to sit on a team's technical bench.

Although the circular is dated April 16 it was not immediately clear if all the coaches have received the letter.

Zifa also sent out another circular to affiliates notifying them that only qualified personnel would be eligible for technical and administration appointments.

In the circular, Zifa chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya wrote that the move was aimed at rationalising the grading of personnel handling association football.

"This circular serves to inform you that the Association, in its efforts to rationalise the grading of technical and administration officials in charge of association football, only qualified personnel will be eligible for technical and administration appointments.

"Football cannot afford the luxury of using unqualified personnel as this will impact negatively on the standard of football in Zimbabwe.

"The position is in line with Zifa's growth and development policy and it shall be enforced with effect from January 1, 2010 without fear and favour."

The circular also set the minimum qualification standards for a national team coach to be a holder of a local Level Four certificate and an international certificate.

Premier Soccer League coaches will with effect from the same period next year also be required to have Level Four certificates.

The circular also set the standard requirements for administrators for a national team, PSL, the lower divisions, schools, colleges and academies.