Welcome to ‘Dugout Diaries’, a content series in partnership with the Premier League highlighting a new cohort of coaches working hard to make elite level football more diverse and inclusive for the next generation, on and off the pitch.

Former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari is one of the latest players to enrol on the Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS) – a joint programme between the PFA, the Premier League and the EFL designed to increase the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic players who transition into coaching. 

The scheme, first introduced in 2020, provides six coaches per season with a 23-month intensive work placement at a Premier League or EFL club within the Academy or first team-environment. Each coach works through a personal learning and development programme focusing on several key areas: physical performance and conditioning, recruitment, analysis, administration and coaching different age groups.

Whilst many will remember him as a Premier League Years legend following spells at Portsmouth and Manchester City, the once-notorious hitman is in a new phase of his career, paving the path for future generations of Black and African coaches. 

VERSUS sat down with Benjani to talk about football’s effort to ensure off-pitch representation matches on-pitch diversity, his journey from playing in Zimbabwe to becoming captain for his nation, and why his coaching career is preparing him for his future goal of being national team manager.

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"There are around three or four players from Zimbabwe that made it to the Premier League. If none of us are doing anything to aid the next generation, how will there be more kids like us?"

How would you have benefited from having more coaches like yourself when you played?‍

I think it would have improved my playing style. One thing that the kids today have is that whether they want to be Ronaldo or Messi, the information of how to play like them is available. I never really had that and never really had people who played the game to a level to coach me.

Growing up in Zimbabwe, I started off playing in the street and my career only really started taking off by the age of 15. A lot of my foundation was me figuring out myself. This is why I want to give back, so kids can have that knowledge. All the knowledge that is now out here can be given to them.

‍How does the lack of diversity within coaching make you feel?‍

The thing is, we have been living with this sort of thing for a long time. If you hold these things in mind, it will disturb you. I try not to let these things disturb me.

We can’t ignore it, but we have to keep pushing and making sure we do our part. It will take a long time for it to go but we must keep pushing.

‍Are you aware of the inspiration your journey is having?‍

When I go back home, yes. A lot of the young kids want to be like me. That makes me feel like I’m not doing enough, though. There are around three or four players from Zimbabwe that made it to the Premier League. If none of us are doing anything to aid the next generation, how will there be more kids like us?

That is why coaching means so much to me. I want to be able to aid others to dream big and do the things I did and more.

‍What do you want to go on and achieve in your coaching career?‍

Everyone wants to be successful. I have managed in my country but the goal in my coaching career is to go back home and finish this journey. 

I want to be the Zimbabwean national team manager one day.

@MayowaQuadri_

VERSUS: What does being a coach mean to you?

Benjani: It means a lot. When I finished playing, I didn’t know what to do. I took my time, but I didn’t know if I’d find coaching as my passion. Eventually I found it and I’ve been enjoying it since.

‍How much has your lived experience and upbringing played a part in the type of coach you are today?‍

I can actually say it’s been really useful for the young ones here at Plymouth. I think young players, whether at U18 level or younger, want to learn and listen. 

Because of my experience of playing the game, they are able to tap into my knowledge. They know that I know what I’m talking about. Also, I played for over 20 coaches in my career. I learned a lot about men and management of men. Harry Redknapp was a very specific style of manager but so were so many of my other managers.

I think the key thing that benefited me was how coaches aided players who were living away from home and how they learnt about cultures. Being able to adapt is very important, it was important in my journey and now I can teach the young people this.

‍Was coaching always something you always saw yourself doing?‍

I never saw myself becoming a coach. But when I went back home to Zimbabwe and saw the future of football, I started to see that much more could be done. I started questioning how I could give back to future generations and this is now what I do.

‍How have you benefited from being on the Professional Player to Coach Scheme?‍

It’s always very difficult to break through as a coach. Particularly as a Black African coach, the scheme has not only helped me with my confidence, but it’s helped me and so many other coaches get placed with teams.

Since being at Plymouth, I have been with all of the age groups, and I have also been able to be close to the coaches whilst assisting and delivering sessions. It’s enabled me to become more free as I am not assigned to one specific group.