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Susan Chibizhe

Senior Sports Reporter
THE “Iron Lady” of women’s football and former boss, Susan Chibizhe, has finally broken her silence and spoken on claims by ousted Mavis Gumbo that no structures existed before she (Gumbo) came into office in 2010. Speaking during an interview on the sidelines of a Press conference by aspiring Zifa presidential candidate Trevor Carelse-Juul in Bulawayo on Tuesday, Chibizhe said Gumbo’s utterances were reminiscent of someone who was expecting an easy win.

Gumbo lost to Harare businesswoman and former journalist Miriam Sibanda after garnering 20 votes to Sibanda’s 22.
After the loss, Gumbo, who Chibizhe said was invited to assist in women football when the country played host to the 2002 Cosafa Women football championships, was extensively quoted in both the print and electronic media saying she was leaving  the association a happy woman after putting up structures which did not exist before she came into office.

She had beaten Chibizhe who sought a return to mainstream football after her 2004 suspension with other councillors.
Chibizhe was suspended on allegations of trying to unseat the Rafiq Khan-led board together with Leonard Nkala, Pharaoh Jele, Addmore Nyamuramba, Andrew Tapela, Francis Zimunya, Robert Chisvo and Aaron Munautsi.

“I leave office a proud woman and I am not bitter at all because I have left behind tangible achievements which are not questionable.
“When I took over, there was no women’s football to talk about and I managed to lay down a strong foundation which I am sure will come in handy for the newly elected,” Gumbo said soon after the elections held at Zifa Village.

Chibizhe, who started off as chairperson for the Harare Province Women’s Soccer League in 1993 before rising to be chairperson of the first national board in 1997, said she felt sorry for the likes of the late Haverson Masilela who sacrificed their personal resources in running women’s football only for Gumbo to rubbish their efforts.

“When someone loses while expecting to easily win, such reckless statements cannot be ruled out. It’s not true and it will never be true that there was no women’s football then. How did she come in herself? For the record, we invited Gumbo when we hosted Cosafa,” said Chibizhe.

She added: “People like ubaba uKhumalo (Haverson Masilela) will be very hurt by such statements. One should learn to acknowledge the good that others did before them just like now where we can’t say she did nothing during her term because everything is there for us to see.”

Chibizhe said the Gumbo board had the advantage of a sound corporate support through the Marange Resources deal unlike during their tenure.

“We had set up even junior structures as a feeder scheme to the ageing girls that were in the national team. The present Mighty Warriors team is made up of players who were playing in those junior set-ups so what does she mean that there were no structures,” she said.
Chibizhe emphasised predecessor value as key to sport.

During her (Chibizhe) time, Cyclone Queens, Rhinos, New Orleans and Highlanders Royals were formidable teams while Inline Academy and several others came into being.