adminSenior Sports Reporter
COWDRAY Park Queens marked their entry into the Zimbabwe Women Football Super League in grand style, hitting city neighbours Burrow Jets 6-2 in a lively match played at Cowdray Park Ground before an appreciative crowd on Saturday afternoon. The match was played despite threats of expulsion from women football by administrator Theresa Maguraushe who allegedly phoned clubs Friday and Saturday ordering them not to fulfil the matches which are being organised by chairperson Miriam Sibanda.
Maguraushe is said to have told clubs that they should not entertain any correspondence from Sibanda after an illegal meeting “suspended” her and fellow board members Ben Mamoshe and Edwin Magosvongwe last month.
It was not immediately clear on what grounds Maguraushe would expel the clubs as she is just an employee on the women football desk at Zifa.
She also allegedly instructed referees not to officiate at the games as infighting within the Zifa board continues unabated despite Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa’s calls for the fighting to come to an end.
“We got phone calls from Maguraushe instructing us not to play our matches. She was saying Sibanda was no longer with women’s football,” said an official from Cyclone Queens, who were meant to play against Hwange Ladies.
The team eventually made a U-turn on their way to the Colliery.
When contacted yesterday Maguraushe denied ever phoning and threatening clubs.
“I never phoned any clubs, it’s not true what they’re telling you but what I know is that our league is starting on May 23 or a week later,” she said.
Despite the desperate threats, three matches were played, one of them involving security services teams, ZRP Morris and Chapungu which the latter won 2-1.
In Bulawayo, a hattrick by Piecemore Chilemba, brace by former Mighty Warriors gun lady Ntombiyelanga Ndlovu as well as a single strike by Hammon Ndlovu propelled the Evans Netha coached girls to a maiden win over the Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo captained Burrow Jets.
The visitors were gifted with an own goal by goalkeeper Sheron Ngwenya with the other goal coming from veteran Moyo.
The ambitious Cowdray Park Queens had Sandile Nyathi, Happiness Gumbo putting up excellent performances as well as Ngwenya despite scoring the own goal.
It was also refreshing to see some residents taking their time out to support the girl child and some could be heard saying those that were politicking should be kicked out of football for good.
They called on Minister Langa to deal decisively with the matter.
“All we want is to see our children playing football and this nonsense which we’re reading about in the newspapers should stop, it’s embarassing to say the least,” said an angry fan.
Meanwhile, Cowdray Park Queens are in sponsorship negotiations with a leading hardware supplier in the city.
The team needs about $7,000 for its annual expenses and spokesperson Mthokozisi Ngwenya said negotiations were at an advanced stage.
Without naming the potential sponsor, Ngwenya said they were hopeful that they will be inking an agreement before their away match.
“Football is big business with a lot of potential and we hope that by partnering with the corporate world we’ll both benefit as we’ll be travelling the length and breadth of this country and in the process our sponsor will get all the necessary mileage,” said Ngwenya.
Cowdray Park Queens, who have since roped in former Highlanders and national team skipper Dazidelio Kapenya as the technical advisor will this weekend be home to Lowveld side Mwenezana.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu