Zimbabwean defender takes the Barcelona route into coaching
Zimbabwean defender Marshall Machazane has taken an audacious path into coaching after enrolling for a coaching course with the Barcelona Innovation Hub.
Machazane is planning a smooth transition from playing into coaching as his career is in it’s twilight.
He will spend the whole month at the La Liga side Barcelona Innovation Hub with high hopes of getting an appreciation of Barcelona’s philosophy.
WHY MACHAZANE CHOSE THE BARCELONA INNOVATION HUB
“I’m left with only one season to play before I retire, so I’m preparing for life after playing football,” he said.
“I want to start attaining coaching knowledge and qualifications before I retire.
Machazane added: “I’m studying with the Barcelona Innovation Hub which is a platform for knowledge and innovation.
“It’s a great experience for me and I’ve learnt a lot so far because here they take football very seriously.
“They invest a lot into football and they are also very professional in their approach. So with this knowledge, I believe I will be better equipped to get into coaching.
“I believe that my knowledge will help my compatriots back home as well.”
The towering defender recently acquired a ZIFA Level One coaching badge, an indication of what he plans to do.
While others are in pre-season camp, he enrolled for the course which believes will sharpen his perspective.
Machazane has one-year remaining on his contract with Harare giants, Caps United. The former Dynamos captain is one of the few players that decided to take the coaching route before retirement.
He is also among the few players that played for the big-three teams thus Highlanders, Dynamos and CAPS United.
He however has not had much success as a player in Zimbabwe’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
This is except that he was part of the 2006 Highlanders championship winning team then under the mentorship of Methembe Ndlovu.
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