Call for female Mighty Warriors coach

WITH the Mighty Warriors coach set to be announced anytime from now, there have been calls for the Zifa Normalisation Committee (NC) to consider hiring a woman.

If a lady does not land the post it would have to be someone who is familiar with women’s soccer.

The plea comes as the national women’s football team is set to play in the Cosafa Women’s Championships that will take place in South Africa from October 4-15.

Whoever takes over has to identify the players and assemble a national team in the next 10 days.

Zimbabwe was drawn in Group C with Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia and their first game is on October 6 against Lesotho.

Fans and women’s sports personalities countrywide revealed their joy in having the country back in international competitions.

However, they caution against the appointment of a coach who will not “fit in.”

Chief among the needs is the hiring of a female coach.

Former Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League chairperson and former Zifa board member Susan Chibizhe is of the view that a woman must land the top job.

She recommends that the selection has to start from the female coaches in the local league.

“We have our experienced coaches. We have to consider the female coaches. There has to be a fully experienced technical team that will take women’s football to greater heights,” said Chibizhe.

She advised that in the appointment of the coach, there must also be a sound choice for the assistants. She gave an example of the Nigerian and Cameroonian national women sides that comprise more than five technical personnel with a fusion of former players who earned their coaching badges.

Chibizhe said the incoming coach has to be a motivator and be able to identify players countrywide. “For us to have a strong team, there has to be a coach who has a national outlook. That coach must motivate the girls and groom them. We want a team with young players so that there is continuity that secures the future.”

Celebrated Mighty Warriors former player Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo said there is no wiser decision than to give the job to a female.

“If we put our heads together, the easiest thing to do is just to give the job to a woman. The list of qualified female coaches is endless. A woman will get the job done,” she said.

Player/coach, Nobuhle Majika spoke of the need to empower women to leadership positions when it comes to matters of women in football.

“Having a female coach at national team level is the biggest motivator. I remember when Rosemary Mugadza was the coach, she inspired as many girls to believe they can make it. We saw it again when Sithethelelwe Sibanda was the national team coach. This is what we need as women in football,” she said.

A women’s football fan, Charity Mabhena said she will be happy if a woman is appointed coach.

“If we are to be fair, this post is for a woman. Girls do well when they are led by a woman. It speaks to reality that not all top football jobs have to be given to men. The world is changing and we have a lot of women who are qualified and have all it takes to take the responsibility of coaching the Mighty Warriors.

“It is not only me who will be happy if a woman is chosen but many fans who enjoy women football. The greater good is for the growth of women’s football in the country. Let us shame the devil and hire a woman,” said Mabhena a resident of Hwange.

The request for a female coach for the Mighty Warriors comes at a time when a number of sports leaders are bemoaning the low number of women coaches in charge of national teams.

Women argue that it’s only fair for women’s teams to be coached by women.

One such view came from the president of the National Association of Primary Heads (Nash), Cynthia Khumalo who told Zimpapers Sports Hub that equal representation was key.

“The issue of balancing the dynamics is very critical. We need equal representation everywhere because all sports are played by men and women. So, we are saying we need more women in these positions, in all sporting disciplines,” said Khumalo.