Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga, Zimpapers Sports Hub
AMID the thunder of the Zambezi and the tourist bustle of Victoria Falls, one woman is charting her own path in a space few dare to enter, a man’s game, on a man’s touchline, in a man’s world.
As the local football season rumbles into gear, a story of quiet defiance and sheer grit is unfolding in Zimbabwe’s resort capital.
Irene Mwanza, a 40-year-old trailblazer, is the only female coach in the Zifa Southern Region Division Two League, serving as the assistant coach for Victoria Falls Herentals Football Club.
In a region where women’s football is virtually non-existent, Mwanza refuses to wait for change. She’s living it.
“The field is tough when you’re the only woman,” she says.
“It’s not easy working in this male-dominated space, especially being the only female coach in the entire region. But I’ve managed to pull through. The technical staff has supported me since I started coaching in Division One.”
Alone in the tactical jungle, Mwanza is forging her coaching path with resilience and humility.
“Like I said, it’s not easy. But I’ve survived by working closely with other coaches, especially in my team, and learning from others too. You have to stand your ground when you’re out there,” she adds.
Stereotyping and gender bias remain daily hurdles. Mwanza has faced them head-on, often with a smirk and a scoreboard in her favour.
“There are many times when I walk onto the pitch and people assume I’m the medic,” she chuckles.
“They’re shocked when I tell them I’m a coach. I remember one game, fans from the opposing side heckled me during warm-up, saying they’d win because we had a woman on our bench. We won that match. I had the last laugh.”
Despite not having played professional football, an ankle injury in her school days sidelined those dreams, Mwanza’s love for the game only grew stronger.
“I never played professionally,” she says.
“I only played at school, but after the injury, my mother wouldn’t let me continue. Still, I never stopped loving the game. I’d watch Highlanders every chance I got. When I began teaching, I knew coaching was my next move.”
Now a Caf C licence holder, Mwanza is pushing for her Caf B qualification, with the final phase set for July. Her coaching journey is no solo pursuit, she’s backed by a club that sees her potential.
“I’ve worked with coaches who mentored me, and I’m grateful. Their support gave me confidence and shaped who I am,” she says.
“Victoria Falls Herentals has backed me all the way. At the start of the year, I was actually appointed head coach until Brian came in, and I returned to the assistant role.”
Currently enrolled in the Caf B programme under the Botswana Football Association, Mwanza’s journey is being funded entirely by her club.
“That’s how supportive they’ve been,” she affirms.
In a league with no space carved out for women, Irene Mwanza is creating one, play by play, session by session, breaking down barriers and daring others to follow.
