The Sunday Mail
IT was once a taboo to have women directly dealing with football matters.
It was even argued that having the fairer sex at training sessions or matches brought bad luck. However, there are number of women who are slowly making the beautiful game even more beautiful. Here are some of them:
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Miriam Sibanda, Zimbabwe
Women’s Football
The suspended women’s football boss is one of the most powerful women in the game. She is as passionate for soccer as she is for the development of girls.
The journalist-cum-football administrator and businesswoman, who is also director at former Northern Region Division One side Twalumba, was elected Zimbabwe Women’s Football chair in March 2014, beating pre-election favourite Mavis Gumbo. Her stay in office has not been rosy and her documented tug-of-war with Zifa CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze has dominated the football scene in recent months.
Joyce Kapota, Caps United
communications manager
Being the face of Caps United at a time the Harare side is facing serious financial and boardroom struggles must be Hell on Earth. Kapota says her love for Makepekepe spurs her on. “I have always been a Caps United supporter, from childhood and I am sure things will soon be okay at my beloved team. It is a tough time indeed, my phone is always inundated with calls with supporters demanding to know what is going on, some call at midnight, some stop me in the streets.
“I am lucky my boyfriend understands that I work in a male environment,” says Kapota. Joyce is an avid follower of newly-crowned Barclays Premier Soccer League champions Chelsea but says she can’t wear the Blues’ jersey “because Caps United’s fiercest rivals Dynamos also wear the same colour”.
Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, Tsholotsho FC assistant coach
This is a history maker: the first and only woman to sit on the bench for a Premiership club as a technical member.
Known fondly as “Kwinji 15” during her Mighty Warriors playing days, Sibanda is assistant coach to Lizwe Sweswe. Sweswe lauds her very sharp football brain.
Chido Chizondo, FC Platinum media liaison
She is one of the most popular ladies in the mining town of Zvishavane and the Midlands in general, thanks to her role at the professionally-run FC Platinum.
An avid follower of the game, Chido Chizondo fell in love with football at a tender age, mainly because her father was a soccer player who, however, never made it to top flight soccer.
The mother of two has been at Pure Platinum Play for the past three years and some of the major public relations issues she has dealt with include handling the club’s “moneybags” perception, the sacking of Lloyd Mutasa and current coach Norman Mapeza’s early season horrors.
She supports English football giants Arsenal and thinks the Gunners will win next season’s league title. Her two children, Mutsawashe and Tadiwanaishe, inspire her. “My children are the ultimate gift from above and each day I see them I see God’s love for me,” she says.
Tsitsi Molly Mufunya, Dongo Sawmill spokesperson
She played an instrumental role when the club was founded a few years back and is now spokesperson of the Premiership side. Mufunya, whose passion for the development of the game in Manicaland is beyond doubt, was also part of the set-up at Buffaloes last year.
