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Sibusisiwe Mutunzi

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO Football Club’s medic Sibusisiwe Mutunzi was allegedly subjected to physical and sexist verbal abuse by Dynamos midfielder Stephen Alimenda during the two teams’ Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) goalless encounter at Rufaro Stadium on Africa Day.

The vile sexist abuse is said to have occurred in the 88th minute of the match as Mutunzi was walking past the Dynamos bench to attend to an injured Tsholotsho player when Alimenda allegedly punched her and hurled unprintable words at her.

Mutunzi told Chronicle Sport yesterday that she was still traumatised by the unexpected attack.

“Football must not be like this, honestly. The guy was so vicious, physically and verbally yet I had done him no wrong because I was only rushing to render medical assistance to one of our players who was down injured. There were suddenly fists all over me and he also hurled insults at me with sexual connotations which cannot be printed in such a respected family paper like yours,” said Mutunzi, who was on her way to the doctor as she was still in pain.

According to an official letter of complaint the league debutants lodged with the PSL, the alleged sickening abuse happened in full view of the first assistant referee as well as the fourth official.

PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele confirmed receiving Iziqholo zeZhwane’s letter of complaint.

“We have receipt of it (the complaint); we’ll look into the matter,” said Ndebele.

In the letter addressed to PSL competitions manager Elisha Mandireva, Tsholotsho chief executive officer Vusumuzi Ndlovu wrote:

“We would like to file a formal complaint against Dynamos player Stephen Alimenda who assaulted our female team medic in a touchline incident.

“The incident occurred around the 88th minute of the game. The player in question assaulted our team medic Sibusisiwe Mutunzi as she went past the Dynamos bench to render treatment to one of our injured players.

“This happened in full view of the first assistant referee as well as the fourth official. Our head coach raised the issue there and then with both officials who also verbally confirmed witnessing the incident. Our team medic has since discovered that she sustained a bruise on the cheek just below the eye.

“Such actions, if left unchallenged taint the name of the league and its partners as condoning violence against women.”

Ndlovu said they now await to see the course of action the league would take against Alimenda “in the interest of promoting sportsmanship and also protecting our women against all forms of violence”.

The club said it was important to note that their medic was a young woman and many able women may be put off careers in football by the prevailing atmosphere of sexism such as the one displayed by Alimenda.

Mutunzi is one of three women in the Tsholotsho FC set up alongside assistant coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda and club secretary Melody Ndlovu.

This case gives the PSL an opportunity to prove that they take the issue of equality extremely seriously and abhor discrimination in all its forms, including sexism, and that such behaviour is unacceptable and must be eradicated from football.

According to Article 3 of the PSL statutes, neutrality and non-discrimination, discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.