Zimpapers Logo

Miriam Sibanda

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League boss Mirriam Sibanda has strongly warned clubs in her league against engaging in unsanctioned friendly matches.She said such practices presented a bad image about the league as it showed absence of professionalism which is key to attracting sponsorships.

Such clubs, the women’s football boss said, would in future face the wrath of her league.

“While we understand the need to give the girls as much game time as possible, we do not as a board condone what we saw reported on social media that two national Super League clubs played what they termed ‘the Uhuru Cup’ without advising the board,” said Sibanda.

She said it was important to always remember that football by its very nature is a regulated sport both on and off the pitch.

“Just as players have to play according to the rules so too must football administrators. A repeat of a situation where clubs decide on their own to play friendly matches without advising the board will not go unpunished,” she said.

Sibanda said if women’s football is to attract support and sponsorship, there was a need to start doing the right things that demonstrate that they are worthy custodians of the beautiful game and hence provincial and regional teams wishing to play friendlies must advise their respective leaders.

Meanwhile, veteran administrator and women’s football vice-chairperson, Elizabeth Langa, has been appointed to be in charge of all women’s national teams while Inline Academy director Trust Kwembeya will lead the corporate affairs and marketing portfolios.

Cecilia Gambe and Edwin Magosvongwe will be in charge of competitions and finances respectively with Ben Mamoche being in charge of development.

The appointments were made during the Sibanda board’s first meeting held in Harare on Saturday last week. The named administrators will head sub committees going under those headings as the new constitution gives the secretariat added responsibility to run all facets of the game.

The meeting also allocated each board member a region to supervise in terms of development with Mamoche taking charge of the Central, Gambe the Eastern while Magosvongwe and Kwembeya will oversee activities in the Northern and Southern regions respectively.

“The responsibility of each board member is to see to it that women’s football is being played in the provinces and regions under their jurisdiction,” wrote Sibanda in her circular to clubs and regions.