By Flata Kavinga
The Zimbabwe American Football Federation (ZAFF) has intensified efforts to develop American football at grassroots level, with a focus on assembling a national team for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Speaking on the sidelines of a two-day Level 1 introductory and coaching course held at Kwekwe Primary School, ZAFF national coordinator Kenias Chizema said the federation is prioritising capacity building through training coaches who will establish clubs across the country.
“We are training coaches and encouraging them to form clubs, where we shall select players to represent the country in the Olympics,” Chizema said.
He noted that the federation, which is registered under the Sports and Recreation Commission and affiliated with international structures, has already rolled out programmes in all provinces over the past two years.
Chizema said ZAFF is promoting flag football — a non-contact version of the sport — as an entry point, particularly for young athletes.
“American football is a contact sport but we are introducing flag, which is zero contact and suitable for young people. It allows players to compete without physical collisions,” he said.
Despite limited resources, Chizema said the federation is improvising with available facilities, often sharing infrastructure used for rugby, while working to secure standard equipment.
“We do not yet have adequate equipment, but we are in the process of securing what is needed for full participation,” he said.
Currently, established teams are operating in Harare and Bulawayo, while the sport has also been introduced in schools in Mhondoro-Ngezi as part of efforts to widen participation.
Chizema acknowledged the absence of sponsorship but expressed optimism that financial backing would follow increased activity.
“We believe sponsorship follows what is happening on the ground. That is why we are focusing on organising ourselves and rolling out programmes,” he said.
More than 20 participants, including some from Gokwe, registered for the Midlands training programme, which aims to expand the sport into rural communities.
ZAFF Midlands provincial chairperson Washington Maxwell Moyo said the training marked an important step in introducing the sport locally.
“This is a new sport code in the country, and we are working to introduce it in communities and schools with the long-term goal of Olympic participation,” Moyo said.
He described the response as moderate, attributing this to limited awareness and competing commitments among school authorities.
Moyo said participants from Gokwe South formed a significant portion of attendees, highlighting both enthusiasm in rural areas and communication gaps in urban centres.
He added that female participation had been encouraging and stressed the need for sustained support beyond initial training sessions.
“We are expecting support from the international federation, which should cascade to rural areas. Provincial tournaments must also spread beyond urban centres in line with inclusive development goals,” Moyo said.
ZAFF has assured participants of equal support as it seeks to establish structures nationwide and build a competitive team ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
