dyton mupawaenda
Veronica Gwaze-Sports Reporter
GOOD times are beckoning for the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League as the recently appointed interim executive led by veteran administrator Theresa Maguraushe has introduced a raft of new measures to protect local female footballers.
The move has forced the interim executive to postpone the league’s kick off to a later date to pave the way for professionalising the women’s topflight league. The league was supposed to get underway today.
According to a statement by ZWSL, the new leadership is in the process of looking into the women’s league player contracts.
Clubs have so far been tasked to amend their contracts with immediate effect.
On their player contracts, clubs have been ordered to clearly state the commencement and duration of the agreement with the end dates being either 31 December or 30 June.
Further, ZWSL clarified that the first registration window is from the start of the year up to March 31 while the second phase is from July 1 up to July 31.
ZWSL interim executive chairperson Maguraushe said the deferment of the league resumption is intended to give teams more time to meet the new set of requirements.
Clubs, she added, will not be allowed to participate in the league before meeting all the requirements hence they need to treat this as a matter of urgency.
“This is to allow clubs to meet the listed requirements while at the same time allowing the ratification of the league’s constitution, its rules and regulations,” she said.
“…no club will be allowed to participate before meeting all the above requirements.”
Part of the requirements are the FIFA Connect registration of players, submission of club constitutions, banking details, club structures, and affiliation fees.
“Complying with FIFA stipulations is our major priority right now, so we are supposed to comply with the club registration process which has to be done through the FIFA committee,” she said.
“We also want to ensure that we have the correct ratified rules and regulations of our league and women’s football constitution so that when we start, we will not have any distraction.”
With remuneration issues being a nagging headache in women football for years, part of ZWSL demands is that if a player’s contract stipulates that they will be paid a salary, then it has to clearly state the amount.
This will eliminate room for financial exploitation of female footballers.
Any other benefits, rights and obligations of the player, rights and obligations of the club as well as dispute resolution channels should also be clearly stated on players’ contracts.
This is meant to change the narrative on the local women’s football as it has been lagging behind compared to how other African countries are doing.
The league is also working on securing marketing and sponsorship contracts before the beginning of the season.
To show for their commitment, ZWSL have paid referees for the entire season, introducing fourth officials whom they have also paid in full until the end of the season.
Stakeholders have applauded the new executive for making efforts to professionalise women football.
The new leadership came into office earlier in the year when former office bearers Barbara Chikosi, her deputy Wilbert Rambanapasi and their board members were axed after a vote of no confidence by clubs.
Online Reporter