Ex-Mighty Warriors star decries women’s football

WOMEN’S football legend and former Mighty Warriors captain Nomsa Moyo believes lack of sponsorship as well as passionate people to develop the sport at grassroots level is stifling talent growth.

The celebrated ex-midfielder who made her national team debut in 1999 against South Africa in a match that Zimbabwe lost 2-1, thinks that women’s football has retrogressed despite the establishment of many teams.

Moyo, better known as “Boyz” and had over 100 caps and 96 goals for her country, spoke with conviction about the standards of the game dropping.

“In my view, the standard of the game in women’s soccer has gone down compared to yesteryear. I don’t know if this is caused by lack of sponsorship in women’s football or if there is a lack of talent. I wish to see yesteryear football being played, just like it was when we had New Orleans, Highlanders Royals, Gugulethu and Mufakose Queens among others. There were few teams back then but competition was intense. Now there are many teams but surprisingly it isn’t that competitive.

“Maybe if we can have the corporate backing of women’s football just like what is happening to men’s soccer, maybe there can be great improvement. Of course, there’s the national women’s league, but it isn’t showcased or marketed like that of men. Maybe you media guys can help make noise about women’s football just like what used to happen in the past when you could see women’s soccer on television, follow women’s football on radio and even in newspapers,” said Moyo.

She believes coverage of women’s soccer also challenges players who are keen on following themselves in the media.

Now working for the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz), Moyo, who also coaches upcoming footballers at Young Flying Stars Academy which was set up by former Railstars, Shabanie Mine and Highlanders winger Collen Nyambiya, longs for Bulawayo to become powerhouse of women’s football.

“Short cuts will not take the game anywhere. Look, Bulawayo players used to dominate national teams because we played competitive games week in, week out. Not that I don’t appreciate what few people are doing in the women’s game, but now there are few who are keen on developing talent. Most of these people only want complete players, some of whom are fast tracked to play at the highest level when they’re not yet ripe.

“There’s a need to go back to the basics, emulate what the likes of Haverson Masilela and others did to make Bulawayo a women’s football powerhouse. Go to schools, encourage schools to join the lower leagues so that they play football throughout the year instead of just doing so during the second term. This way, the girl child will play every weekend and thereby develop talent quicker. A strong grassroots will lead to yielding positive results at the bigger stage. Patience is key in achieving this and let’s avoid shortcuts,” said Moyo.

During her career that had three Cosafa runners-up medals and a winners’ medal in 2012 in the twilight of her playing days, scoring her last goal in the tournament in Harare, Moyo still follows women’s soccer even though she’s coaching boys at the academy.

At the 2001 regional finals, Moyo scored 17 goals, four short of top goal scorer Veronica Phewa of South Africa.

Among a host of goals she had, a 45-metre drive scored against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2004 is arguably her most treasured.

Marveled for her work ethic on the field of play, skill and vision on and off the ball, Moyo isn’t ruling out taking up women’s coaching job.

“I still have a strong football passion. I shifted to boys’ soccer because in girls’ soccer there’s too much undermining. If the opportunity to coach women comes I’ll take it,” she said.

Moyo, who spent three years from 2008-2010 playing for MaIndies in South Africa in a deal brokered by the late Masilela which saw her cross the Limpopo River with Daisy Mukwena, Nokuthula Ndlovu and Ntombi Ndlovu challenged upcoming footballers to shun social ills.

“Aspiring footballers can join local clubs or even ask their schools to allow them to play football so that they stay active and improve their skills.

“My message to aspiring footballers is that there’s a growing trend of youngsters abusing drugs and other substances, which is not good for your health as well as your development as an athlete. As adults, former players, let’s encourage kids to take up sport, develop interest in technical work and stay away from drugs,” Moyo said. — @ZililoR