Having been away for some time, the natural place for me to return would have been to pen something about Power Dynamos and Red Arrowsβ respective outings in the Champions League and Confederation Cup. But I will have to resist that temptation until after the second legs are played.
Coming off a period of attending to some pressing matters, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to tackle something that is not only close to my heart, but also of great importance to our quest to develop the game, the need for a Football Talent Academy.
A Football Talent Academy is a structured development program that identifies, trains and prepares the next generation of football professionals across the entire football ecosystem β including coaches, technical directors, administrators, analysts, referees, medical staff and other specialist roles.
With that in mind, I want to highlight, in brief, why the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and other FAs across the continent need to start entertaining the idea of having Football Talent Academies that go beyond being player centric.
When Zambia talks about football development, the focus is mainly on the player. There is nothing wrong with that because, after all, the player is the gameβs main man. But I believe we need to broaden the conversation.
We cannot only talk about academies, competitions and pathways to professional football without asking a fundamental question: WHO IS DEVELOPING THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH PLAYERS AND RUN FOOTBALL INSTITUTIONS TO GET DESIRED RESULTS?
Modern and future football is not just about the players and the coach. Behind every successful team is an entire ecosystem of professionals, including coaches, analysts, scouts, technical directors, administrators, medical staff, performance personnel and many others who play crucial roles in shaping the game.
Zambia, therefore, needs to think beyond developing players. We should also be deliberate about identifying, nurturing and developing football professionals who can drive the game forward.
This is where a Football Talent Academy comes in, with the purpose of identifying, mentoring and developing talented individuals across the football industry.
WHY?
β Develop the people behind the players
Zambia focuses heavily on identifying and developing players, but the people responsible for developing, managing and supporting those players also need a deliberate pathway for growth.
You cannot build better players without also building better people around them.
β Move from qualification to competence
While FAZ, CAF and FIFA courses provide valuable qualifications, the goal should go beyond certificates to producing professionals who can perform effectively.
The Academy should combine education, practical experience, mentorship, assessment and club placements to build real world competence.
β Build a multidisciplinary football workforce
The Academy would develop analysts, scouts, technical and sporting directors, administrators, commercial specialists, youth development specialists, performance specialists, coaches and coach educators.
All these professionals form part of the success equation for football at every level.
β Create clear career pathways
Someone interested in football but not necessarily capable of playing should still be able to see this as their pathway into the game. After all, while we respect former players, this game is not theirs alone. They also need other professionals for the game to move forward.
One must be able to see themselves moving from a young coach to an academy coach, then a professional coach and eventually a technical director.
Similarly, another person should be able to see a pathway from being a young administrator to an operations manager and eventually a top club executive.
β Develop Zambian football expertise for Zambia and the world
We are accustomed to thinking about exporting footballers, but why shouldnβt we export analysts, coaches, scouts, administrators, technical leaders and football executives?
Have you seen how other African nationals are dominating the African football ecosystem? Why not Zambia?
HOW WOULD THIS WORK?
For a start, let me make it clear: I am not asking FAZ to establish an institution within an institution, but to be strategic and get into partnerships. How can these partnerships work, and with whom?
β Universities (UNZA & CBU) | Academic backbone
Lecture facilities, lecturers, research support, sports science, law, psychology, monitoring and evaluation.
β NIPA | Administration and management
Short but practical courses on institutional and club governance, leadership, HR, ethics, public relations and the like.
β ZCAS/ZICA | Finance and commercial aspects
Training in finance, accounting and other commercial aspects of running football institutions.
β Clubs | Practical laboratories
Clubs should serve as practical laboratories. Every participant in the Academy must spend time inside an actual football environment, with clubs serving as placement partners.
For example, an aspiring analyst should not just spend time in the classroom but should spend 8 to 12 weeks within a club to gain hands on experience.
β Other FAs | Learning and exchange
Some FAs are already way ahead, and partnerships aimed at learning, competence development, exchanges and placements would go a long way.
β International partners | Bringing expertise home
Instead of sending 50 people abroad to learn, as illustrated by the attached costs, FAZ could invite experts from FIFA, CAF and other international institutions for masterclasses, online lectures, mentorship sessions and curriculum development.
THE START
Identify a cohort of 15 to 20 people with various interests and the capacity to learn, say five in each category, and get on with it.
This is particularly important given that our national teams often have to share the same pool of individuals as analysts, coaches, logistics personnel and talent scouts.
We can start somewhere and gradually widen the pool.
The fact is, whether we like it or not, getting results relies on more than the player. It also depends on the people working behind the players, their competence and the systems supporting them.
Again, I ask: WHO IS DEVELOPING THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE PLAYERS TO PRODUCE THE DESIRED RESULTS?
Let me know what you think.
Until next time, I remain, the #FootballMissionary.
Franklyn M Malambo – Football Strategy and Development Expert | 2026.09.08
