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Shingai Dhlamini

FORMER footballer Rumbidzai Matambanadzo, has established a girls’ football team called Dube Strikers in Tshabalala, to help women and girls make more of their interest in the game.

The team aims not only to help young women build careers in sport, but also to provide them with support and financial assistance, and to discourage them from relying on male support or handouts.

The team is yet to be registered with Zifa, but Matambanadzo said she has already submitted all necessary documentation for the registration process. She is still in the process of seeking sponsorship for the team.

Matambanadzo once played for In-line Academy and said during her playing days, she experienced an overwhelming amount of negativity from the community towards girls playing football, which ultimately forced her to retire in 2008.

After loafing for a while, she decided to give back to the game and help girls make careers out of football. By forming Dube Strikers, Matambanadzo also wants people to understand that girls and women have the right to play football despite society’s ill-informed perceptions.

“Our society believes that the girl child’s talent in football is not worthy and it’s something one cannot invest in. That negativity affected my own career. I didn’t like it and wouldn’t want any girl to go through it.

“I ended up quitting something I was passionate about, but I now want to encourage other girls to showcase their talents and build careers at Dube Strikers.

“I agree that I failed in my path to fulfil my dream of being a footballer by listening to people who told me that football was not for girls and there was nothing in it for them. I want to assure girls and the community of Tshabalala that we can make a difference in sport,” said Matambanadzo.

The ex-footie said she was passionate about helping the girl child understand that there is more to her than just being a girl.

She believes women can make a living on their own without depending on men.

“It’s time that women stood up for themselves, whether it’s in the workplace, sports or on the streets. Let’s stand our ground and fight for recognition.

“We also deserve to be acknowledged as capable sports-persons without seeking validation from our male counterparts. It is our right as women. We can create viable support systems for girls and women in our football circles, to discourage them from waiting for handouts,” she said.

She said her vision is not only to help girls succeed in football, but to help clean the streets and help curb the use of drugs and other illicit substances.

“The plan is that by the end of April this year, Dube Strikers should be registered to play in Division Two. We encourage every girl who is interested in football, even if they haven’t played before, to come and join us. We have qualified coaches that will groom them.

“There is Ali Nyamombe a male coach and Mellisa Chiriga, a female coach. Chiriga’s experience on the field will be appreciated by the players,” she said.

Matambanadzo is appealing to the corporate world to assist her team with donations, to help make her dream come true.