adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
OLYMPIC-bound Mighty Warriors technical advisor Barry Daka has called for the establishment of grassroots structures in the women’s game to ensure junior development. The veteran coach said while the task lay with Zimbabwe Women Football, he felt established mens’ clubs should also play a role in setting up youth developmental structures for women.
Daka believes male football teams can play a big role in coming up with activity at the lower level of the game because of their experience.
“I was looking at the Bulawayo Province Junior League and realising that it has started with young boys already getting constant practice but there is nothing happening for the girls.
“The only way we can succeed and be able to produce talented players is through developing them at a young age and having regular games for them (young players) will ensure that we have polished footballers at the top,” said Daka.
The former Highlanders coach said teams in the Premier Soccer League can play a big role through having their own women teams adding such moves can see clubs being rewarded by Fifa.
The Fifa Club Licensing Regulations has forced teams to create women teams and most teams in the PSL are in the process of coming up with teams expected to blossom and also compete at the top level in the women’s side of the game.
Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City and How Mine are already in the process of coming up with their women teams who are earmarked for the Bulawayo Province Division Two this year.
“I was providing coaching services to Mzilikazi High School last year and I assisted both girls and boys to ensure there is equal development on both sides,” said Daka.
ZWF acting chairlady Elizabeth Langa said they were currently restructuring the game following the “chaos” that saw some teams play at national level while others went regional.
Langa is currently on national tour engaging regional structures after which they (ZWF) will move to the provinces, a critical component in the development of the game.
The women’s game has been criticised as being top heavy with more action at the top but little activity taking place at the grassroots.
Langa said the mission was to build on the success of the Mighty Warriors who have managed to qualify for the Olympics set for Brazil in August and the Africa Women Cup of Nations.
Langa said after coming up with a road map for the provinces they would also engage schools sporting bodies, Nash and Naph to ensure they work with them to bring out more talent.
derick.khumalo