The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Sports Reporter
Imagine how it feels to be mistaken for a man, not because you possesses any masculine features, but for the simple fact that you are a woman operating in a male-dominated sport.
Well, for aspiring cricket umpire Matsililo Moyo this mishap happens almost daily.
She was once referred to as ‘’Mr’ when she was overseeing a club game in Bulawayo some years back.
“I was entered on the forms as Mr during one club game here in Bulawayo,” she said.
“I just shrugged it off as there are not too many female umpires in the country, and so people are used to male umpires.
“I can understand that,” said Moyo.
Moyo’s brief anecdote is just but a drop in the ocean of a bigger problem that lies in Zimbabwe cricket.
Female umpires are rarity in the game.
In fact, one can go as far as to call them an endangered species.
The ICC Women T20 World Cup ends today in Australia, and the Lady Chevrons are notable by their absence after failing to make it to the sporting extravaganza owing to the ICC ban on Zimbabwe cricket last year, which scuppered the team’s qualification.
But there was a Zimbabwean umpire at the ICC Women T20 World Cup in Langton Rusere, who continues his meteoric rise on the international stage.
While Rusere’s stock continues to rise, by the day, the lack of female representation from Zimbabwe is worrying.
Moyo is a 43-year-old woman who holds a Zimbabwe Cricket Grade D umpiring certificate and former national women’s team batsman Sarah Dambanevana is also another budding female umpire.
These two are the main female umpires in the country.
Rusere, who is also Zimbabwe Cricket’s national umpire coach, believes aspiring women umpires have been systematically discouraged.
“At the moment, the challenge has been that some of the male cricketers undermine female umpires, and that, in turn, has discouraged them from growing an interest in the profession,” said Rusere.
“We are working on a deliberate plan to give them game-time and get them exposed to as much cricket as we can.
“If there was vibrant women’s club cricket, it would be easier to get more numbers, and not just players, as we would have more female officials too,” said Rusere.
Dambanevana, 29, is pursuing umpiring with a dream of earning international credentials.
“It will be the best thing to happen to us, as Zimbabwe women in sport, if one of us can become an international umpire,” said Dambanevana, who has umpired in some Vigne Cup league matches.
“I have had some games in the men’s league, one in the first league, last year, and a number of them in the second league.
“I am really looking forward to the future, and I am pretty much excited about learning cricket from a different angle,” said the former national team bowler, who is a professional scorer.
Moyo shares the same dream.
“I have gone as far as being a third umpire in the Logan Cup, but I would obviously want to stand in a match.
“The national women’s team is training here in Bulawayo and I am standing in their practice matches, so I will keep working hard.
“Standing in school tournaments and club games is fine, but we would love more opportunities to upgrade ourselves.
“I have been a Grade D umpire for five years, there has not been any courses since then,” she said.
She continued: “Our male counterparts have also been negative towards us, we obviously appreciate criticism but it cannot be all negative.
“Players also used to undermine us, but there has been a shift in attitude.”
The Sunday Mail contacted Zimbabwe Cricket’s coach education officer Mr Stanley Timoni said there have programmes lined up for the whole year.
“We have courses expected to start in April, with dates yet to be confirmed, but I can tell you we have programmes lined up for the whole year.
“We are encouraging players, coaches, and all interested in cricket to be part of these courses, which will include scoring, umpiring, and coaching and grounds maintenance.”
Rusere said a ‘liking for umpiring, game time, competence and obviously passing of the grading exams’ is the route to the top.
