Chronicle Editor
Sports Reporter
TO many people in the semi-rural community of Mawabeni, she is the “Godmother” of sport!
Over the years, she has founded and sponsored a netball club and a football club. She is at home among the scores of young girls and boys who have passed through both her clubs in the last seven years.
“My heart is at peace when I am around my young boys and girls. They inspire me and drive me to try and do more for sport in Mawabeni,” revealed the Fat Look Butchery proprietor.
Seven years ago, Helen Ndlovu decided to start a netball club, Mawabeni Stars. For the next five years, she was the sole sponsor of the club. Mawabeni Stars competed in the Matabeleland South Netball League travelling as far as Beitbridge for competitions.
Her aim was not just to get the girls off the streets or early marriage as is the norm in rural communities, but to also expose these girls to sporting opportunities.
“When I started Mawabeni Stars I didn’t just want to get the girls off the streets or give them something to do. I also wanted them to be exposed to the possibilities that are available through sport. I wanted them to travel, meet other girls and learn about life in sport,” she told Sunday Life.
Ndlovu left the club after another local businesswoman offered to take over the financial burdens at the net ball club.
“A few years ago, a fellow businesswoman in Mawabeni offered to take over Stars. She ran the club for a while, but the economic challenges currently faced by all business in the country forced her to quit.
Sadly, that was the death of the club,” Ndlovu said.
After her foray into sport with her netball club, Ndlovu turned to football.
“I never seem to stay away from sport and so when I stopped funding the netball team I discovered a void in my life and quickly decided to turn to football.
This new adventure resulted in the formation of Mawabeni United Football Club in 2015 which I registered to play in the Mzingwane District Social Soccer League,” the “Godmother” shared.
The club soon became a force to reckon with in the district and very soon Ndlovu realised that there was enough talent in Mawabeni to warrant a move to a more structured league. Ndlovu roped in Australia-based Ndumiso Ncube who is now the club’s director and principal sponsor.
“We played for two years in the Mzingwane Social League, but the passion and talent I saw in the players convinced me that we needed to play in Division Two. By then I had partnered with Ndumuso Ncube who lives in Australia which enabled the club to grow from strength to strength.
Ncube joined us in 2016 and things at the club have been improving since,” the diminutive businesswoman said.
Prior to Ncube’s arrival, Ndlovu not only provided funds for the team but also opened her home to its players especially those that come from outside Mawabeni. Her home is also the clubs’ official camp whenever the team has football matches.
“My home has always been a second home for my players even during my days with Mawabeni Stars. Today, I live with some of the club’s players who come from as far afield as Gokwe and Plumtree. The team also camps at my house ahead of games,” said Ndlovu who is Mawabeni United’s treasurer-general.
Ndlovu is currently working towards reviving netball in Mawabeni. Her aim is to start with local schools and develop the sport there first.
She called on the local council to improve sporting facilities which at the moment are very primitive and make it hard for sport to grow.
Ndlovu argues that there is enough raw talent that Mawabeni can become a force to reckon with in sport. She also believes that the talent that is in Mawabeni is good enough to compete with the best in the country but are being let down by the lack of proper facilities.
Bongani Ndlovu