Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RENOWNED professional boxer Kudakwashe Chiwandire has retraced her steps back to football, where she is now in the books of Scottland Queens.
The Mabvuku based side, which was formed earlier this year, will be playing under the Northern Region Women Football League.
Scottland are joining the league alongside fellow league newbies MWOS with clearly stated intentions of battling for supremacy in their debut season.
Simba Bhora, who had previously also expressed intentions to join the league, have opted to adopt Conduit Academy who ply their trade in the Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League.
The NRWSL gets under way on April, 12 2025 with nine teams expected to take part.
And former WBC female interim super-bantamweight title holder, Chiwandire is expected to be the name to watch out for in the big spenders, Scottland camp.
“Currently I am not getting any fights so when I got an offer to join Scottalnd, I decided to grab the opportunity because that is the only way that I can provide for my family,” she said.
“I will not be shy to point out that things have not been well for me, without fights, I have no other way to place a meal on the table so football comes to serve my situation.”
The last time that Chiwandire had a bout was on March 18, 2023, against Mexican Yamileth Mercado as they battled it out for the World Boxing Council Super Bantamweight gold belt.
Ironically this had to be the highest level she ever reached, as well as her last fight.
Since then, more fights went on to be arranged for the boxer, but for various reasons had to either be postponed or cancelled. Sitting at number 16 on the WBC ratings ‘Take Money’ as she is affectionately known remains the best pound-for-pound female Super Bantamweight boxer in Africa. She has also fought against high-profile pugilists like Catherine Phiri and Zulina Munoz.
“My promoter has been struggling to secure fights for me for reasons that other promoters do not want me to fight their athletes,” she said.
“The promoters feel that I carry a big profile hence I should focus on bigger fights so this has left me grounded for long.”
This year, Chiwandire who used to play football before she joined boxing is expected to be the name to watch out for in the women football’s lower league.
She has already been handed the arm band and responsibility to lead the league’s new kids.
In the past, she played for Aces Academy, Highfield Queens and Sharpshooters amongst other clubs and at some point also went for the Mighty Warriors trials although she failed to make the cut.
“Since I joined Scottland, I now feel a renewed energy and have my sights far in football already,” she added.
“I have fans who follow the brand Chiwandire, soon they will be coming to football which means I need to adapt quickly.
“Swapping my boxing gloves for shooters will not be easy although I have played football before which therefore means I need to work hard and learn fast.
“It will be a process, but the good thing is that my mindset has changed now…I had lost hope as a boxer, I felt drained and hopeless.
“The offer provided instant healing for me, and I am ready for the challenge with the expectation of making it on to the national team one day.”
