Former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker Benjani is one of the latest ex-players to take part in the Premier League's joint Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PBCS). Professional Footballers Association And this English Football League Designed to increase the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic players.
First launched in 2020, the program offers six coaches per season with a 23-month intensive placement at a Premier League or EFL club within an academy or first-team environment.
Each coach focuses on a number of key areas through an individualized learning and development program: physical performance and conditioning, recruiting, analysis, administration and coaching for different age groups.
speaks vsBenjani, who now works as an academy coach at Plymouth Argyle, discussed how his coaching career prepared him to become the national team manager of his country, Zimbabwe, while paving the way for future generations of black and African coaches.
See: Learn more about the Professional Player to Coach Program
“It is [coaching] A lot of meaning. I don't know what to do after playing. I took my time, but I don't know if I consider training my passion. Eventually I figured it out and I'm enjoying it.
“Young players, U18 level or younger, want to learn and listen.
„Because of my experience playing, they can tap into my knowledge. They know I know what I'm talking about. And I've played for over 20 coaches in my career.
„I learned a lot about men and managing men. Harry Redknapp was a certain style of manager, but so were my other managers.
„I never saw myself as a coach. But when I went back home to Zimbabwe and saw the future of football, I started to see that there was a lot more that could be done. I started to question how I could give back to the future generations. What am I doing?
„It's always very difficult to break through as a coach. Especially as a black African coach, this program has not only helped me with confidence but also helped me and many other coaches get into the teams.
„Growing up in Zimbabwe, I started playing on the street and by the age of 15 my career started. A lot of my foundation was finding myself. That's why I want to give back so kids can. To have that knowledge.
„Everyone wants to win and I have managed in my country, but my goal in my coaching career is to finish this journey back home.
„I want to be the Zimbabwe national team manager one day.”
Impact of training programs on PL
– 56 (88 per cent) of the 63 coaches who progressed through the Premier League's inclusive coaching schemes PPCS or Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme (CIDS) are in full-time employment at clubs.
– All 25 coaches supported by PPCS work as coaches in English professional football.
– Of the 38 coaches supported by CIDS, 31 work in men's English football, one in the Women's Super League and two overseas.
– 45 clubs across the Premier League and EFL are involved with PPCS or CIDS.
– 361 coaches are registered in the Coaches Index (self-registration system for coaches from underrepresented groups), 72 clubs are registered to use the platform when recruiting.
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