Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
THE recent announcement by the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League (ZWPSL) that every club must have a CEO has sparked debate around the country.
Many say it is an ambitious, perhaps unrealistic, move.
ZWPSL say the move is a strategic shift aimed at elevating the professionalism of the league.
Veteran administrator and club owner, Sibekiwe Ndlovu, has voiced her concerns over the declaration.
“While the idea of appointing a CEO is promising, I do not think it should be rushed without properly engaging the clubs involved.
“They need time to adjust to such significant changes. It’s unrealistic to impose this overnight, especially when it has financial implications.
“Clubs have already finalised their budgets for the season without factoring in the costs associated with a CEO position.
“If this change was to be introduced, it should have been discussed during the 2023 AGM, which was held earlier in 2024.
“Clubs are already struggling and imposing such a directive at short notice will only add pressure. A few clubs may be able to afford this in the short term, but many will struggle,” said Ndlovu.
She said women’s soccer has thrived around a small unit of people working together to make things happen with a lot of sacrifice.
“From my experience with women’s football clubs, the executive is usually small, often consisting of not more than six individuals.
“They barely have an office administrator, with the secretary and the organising secretary handling the day-to-day operations.
“How, then, can a chief executive officer be introduced without the proper staffing structure in place and funding?
“Personally, I’m not sure how this decision was made without first considering the introduction of a club administrator, and then progress to a chief executive officer role.
“For some clubs, the women’s teams are managed under the same structure as the men’s teams, with a single CEO overseeing both.”
Blogger and football commentator Buhle Ncube also weighed in on the matter.
“It’s admirable to dream big, but we must remain grounded in reality. Many clubs, including those in your league, are already financially struggling.
“The financial strain is clear, even in your league’s social media presence, which suffers from a lack of resources and professionalism. I
“Imposing additional expenses on clubs that are already struggling will only make matters worse,” said Ncube.
