News and Reports from Volunteers

Shohei Sato
Football coaching
Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2017

Counterpart

Sports Recreation Committee (SRC): My assignment at SRC which is a public executing agency is to promote sports and recreation. The National Olympic and Paralympic Games are also held by the institution. The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) undertakes training and selection of football players as well as managing the activities of professional leagues. My major activity is football coaching mostly in and around Bulawayo.

Background

At the present time, 17 JOCVs are active in Zimbabwe, 7 of whom are assigned in activities related to physical education and sports. Some of them are in charge of physical education classes at schools, and some are assigned to associations to teach sports. These assignments aim at nurturing young people through guidance and support of education. Also, we are making efforts to share the value of sports with many people toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.

Aiming at spread and development of sports

As one of the work of football coach, we hold a soccer coach training course at teachers colleges. Already I held a seminar at Hillside Teachers College in Bulawayo and Seke Teachers College in Chitungwiza. Through the practical lessons to the students, the contents that they learned include communication, teaching methods and rules.

The purpose of this work is to communicate our football teaching methods to many people, to have fun of sports and to teach methods of sports. From the participating students, we learnt while enjoying sports. There were lots of practice menus I would like to try at the teaching site. I also get knowledge of how to teach football to children. Through workshops, students who intend to be educators highlighted the power of sports that they would like to cherish in the future. This means that sports often has a role to foster the inner part of human beings, not only by winning , but also through emphasizing the importance of companions and the feelings of compassion. From sports, I received many benefits of courtesy and appreciation.

The work of JOCV may not immediately show results in the short term but in the future. Every day, repeating challenges and failures, we are telling Japanese education and teaching methods to many children and educators. I hope you to incorporate even a bit of Japanese education and teaching methods and use it. I hope many people will know the current JOCV works and help to expand the possibilities of sports education. And it is the dream and hope of the children, I hope many future players of Zimbabwe will be active in the world.

Japan and Zimbabwe Football

In 1993, the Japanese football started to develop strongly with the professional league "J League". Japanese national team has participated five times in the FIFA World Cup, and have been champion four times in the Asian Games. Currently, many Japanese players are also active in the European league, and many children have dreams of active in the world. Japanese players play football mainly on pass and move. It may be because Japanese people value cooperation.

Football is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe and we can meet Zimbabwe Premier League, Social League, Youth Games etc. on weekends. In addition, MIGHTY WARRIORS passed the Africa qualifying and participated in the Rio Olympic Games. Characteristics of Zimbabwe's soccer are different from Japan. I think that skilled jumping and dash of each player is very good. Even in the same football, it is quite a different feature and every day I am very excited. In Zimbabwe, we can connect with many people through football. It was on a Sunday that a lot of people came to football pitch and enjoyed soccer, and a connection between people and people was born. I saw the sports community which were made by sports, and I felt the spread of the possibility of further sports. I am now living a life with many people helping them. I am grateful to the people of Zimbabwe who love sports.

NGIYABONGA KAKHULU (Thank you very much)