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Mzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
INLINE Academy will clash with Black Rhinos in the final of the $75,000 NetOne Charity Shield to be held in Harare on June 21.
The final had been put on hold because of the Mighty Warriors’ participation in the African Championship campaign but they have since been booted out by Zambia.
In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League (ZWSL) chairperson Miriam Sibanda confirmed that the epic final was on.
“Yes, I can confirm that the date is set for the NetOne Charity Shield final on June 21. We are happy that the international commitments are over so we are now concentrating on domestic competitions,” she said.
Inline booked their place in the final after thumping Cyclone Stars 2-1 in the semi-finals played at Barham Green Sports Complex in April.
The military side Black Rhinos walloped Mufakose Queens 6-0 to book a date with the Bulawayo giants.
Rudo Neshamba, Judith Lunga, Rejoyce Kamfumvuti and Priviledge Mbethi will be expected to be at their best if the Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda- coached outfit is going to prevail in the capital.
Meanwhile, Sibanda said they expect the Women’s Super League to kick off before the end of the month after a year-and-a-half without action.
“We are just left with finalising registration of players and other clubs to finish paying affiliation fees, but I can assure you if things go well, the league will kick off before the end of the month,” Sibanda said.
The Super League was initiated in 2011 and teams played without a sponsor that year before Marange Resources came on board in 2012.
In 2013 there was no action and the former board led by Mavis Gumbo and Zifa honorary life member Cecilia Malunga failed to give any explanation as to why the league programme was aborted after so much promise the previous season.
Gumbo and Malunga’s executive is yet to pay clubs prizemoney for the 2012 season.
Sibanda said the league will be played without sponsors again this year after the Gumbo led executive failed to retain the Marange Resources sponsorship.
“There is no ways we can find sponsors if we are not active so club owners are willing to fund the clubs and fulfil fixtures. That will give the corporate world an opportunity to come and watch and maybe come on board,” said Sibanda.
Just over 100 days in office, Sibanda is faced with a mammoth task to gain the corporate confidence in women football.
derick.khumalo