ZIMBABWE Women Soccer League (ZWSL) chairperson aspirant Miriam Sibanda believes she has the capacity to steer the game to greater heights with sound and improved administration and management of the game.
SPORTS REPORTER
Sibanda, whose company Twalumba Holdings owns Northern Region Division One side Twalumba Football Club, faces incumbent Mavis Gumbo in the national elections on Saturday.
“I have identified what I term priority issues that entail reviving the national super league, strengthening grassroot, provincial and regional structures.
“I want to work with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to have organised football in schools and setting up national Under-15 and Under-17 teams.
“We also need to engage existing and new sponsors to have more competitions at various levels that will further strengthen the girl child.
“Essentially, the goal is to use football to educate and empower the girl child. This will involve establishing international networks to allow for exchange programmes to improve knowledge not just about football, but issues affecting women such as HIV and Aids and violence against women and children,” she said.
Turning to the management of the game, the former journalist said: “Football is a complex business that goes beyond the pitch. The success of Zimbabwe Women Football lies in the systems we adopt and our ability to adhere to the rules.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We must strive for Fair Play always. We have to revise our rules and regulations constantly to keep abreast of world trends and ensure that those putting their money into football enjoy tangible returns.
“There is also need to train football administrators at various levels and train more women coaches to work alongside their male counterparts. Having more women coaches also means that our football system must allow them to earn a decent living from coaching.
Stakeholders have to collectively define what they want to see happen and work together to make it happen.
“Zimbabwe Women Football’s core business is and must remain that of developing women football from grassroots up to elite club level. Our business is and must always be to produce the best tactical and technical players that the mother body, Zifa, can select from to form national teams.
“The success of our women national teams will be our barometer of success without taking the mandate to manage national teams from Zifa,” Sibanda said.
She added: “My desire to be ZWSL chairperson stems from a growing passion for the beautiful game coupled with a deep-rooted desire to see women football thrive alongside men in all walks of life.
“By seeking election as chairperson, I am offering myself to be part of a team that will propel women football to great heights.”
