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ONE of Highlanders FC pioneering female supporters Sibekiwe Khumalo believes traditional stereotyping has seen women take a back seat at the club.

Women from the region, she said, have tended to take a back seat because men dont believe in giving them freedom to express themselves or venture.

Khumalo, also legendary goalkeeper Muzondiwa Mugadza’s mother, said it is about time females took a more active role in the club.
“If not for poor health in these past years, I would have had to run for office. Women have supported the club for a long time but are yet to occupy leadership positions at the club,” said Khumalo.

Khumalo, who has followed the club since 1960 when Bosso campaigned against clubs Eastern Brothers and Mashonaland United in the Bafa League, said women were part and parcel of the club’s ecosystem.

She said apart from playing the mother role, women were wives of players who washed clothes and took care of players after matches including nursing them apart from cooking for the stars.

Khumalo acknowledged that women tended to suffer for their men or sons. When things go bad she said women were on the receiving end hence the need for recognition of women at Bosso.

“Women are mothers, sisters and everything to players, we keep money for children to go to football matches.

“We so much to the game and Highlanders FC,” said Khumalo.

She confessed to travelling all around the country with Highlanders with other women one of whom was a MaTshabalala who came from Gwanda.

“One time Bosso had 27 buses going for a cup final in Harare with over 27 buses and women were a good fraction of the passengers in the 1970s.

“At one time my mother was in another bus with Mzo (Mugadza) while I was in another as we travelled to watch Bosso versus Zimbabwe Saints in the 1976 Chibuku Cup final won by Chikwata 4-0. I followed Bosso and saw too many places,” said Khumalo.

She spoke of the 1973 turn around and praised Silas Ndlovu for hardwork and sterling work at Bosso.

Khumalo said in 1972 under Ndlovu Bosso started getting its things right in football and the Chibuku Trophy win over Mhangura could be attributed to both female and male supporters.

“We have been with club at all times despite the gender being overlooked,” she said.
Khumalo said they were the founders of women’s soccer in 1988 with people like Elizabeth Langa.

“We accompanied Bosso to Swaziland and found women’s soccer but on our return, years later we started the Highlanders Royals,” she said.

“My worst match was against Darryn T at Barbourfields stadium. We lost 4-1 and I was substituted. I had my worst nightmare in my career that day.”

Khumalo spoke of several generations of footballers who excited her among them the Ndlovu brothers Adam, Peter Madinda, Tymon Mabaleka, Barry Daka, Judith Chiridza, Elizabeth Moyo, Chris Bha, Benjie Mpofu and Majuta Mpofu.

Khumalo insists that as Bosso nears 100 years, women deserve a chance to be given roles to play in the club’s administration.