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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FOOTBALL history was made on Monday evening when Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda became the first female coach to work in a competitive men’s football league in Zimbabwe. Newly promoted Castle Lager Premier Soccer League outfit Tsholotsho FC roped in the Young Mighty Warriors head coach as one of the two assistants to Lizwe Sweswe on a three-year contract.
The former Mighty Warriors star player has since relocated to the Matabeleland North growth point.
“We finished our agreement with Sibanda on Monday evening, she will be with us for the next three years. Sibanda remains one of the highly qualified football fundis in the country and our hopes are that her qualifications will add the necessary value in the team,” said Tsholotsho chairman Mlamuli Phiri.
Sibanda is a holder of a coaching instructor’s qualification, she has a Caf A coaching badge and in 2012 she attended and acquired a Germany B licence course certificate.
“With the appointment of Sibanda to the team, our technical bench is now done. Master Ngwenya is the other assistant coach, Farai Sibanda will be the goalkeepers’ coach, Edson Masilela is the team manager, Butholezwe Ncube is our kit manager while Sibusisiwe Mutunzi keeps her post as the team medic,” said Phiri.
Morelecture Ncube and Nkululeko Ncube will be the club’s juniors’ coaches in line with the club licensing requirements that teams must invest in junior development.
Meanwhile, the construction of Tsholotsho Stadium moved a gear up this week with the company contracted for the major part of the work moving to the site.
Phiri said work was progressing well and they were happy with the progress.
The stadium construction committee led by Tsholotsho High School headmaster Sicelo Dube has set February 26 as the deadline for the major work to have been completed.
Plan B, the club said, will be to play their matches at the Colliery Stadium in Hwange although formal negotiations with the custodians of the stadium are yet to begin.
Sibanda becomes the third known female coach to join a men’s team in the world after Croatia’s Tihana Nemcic and France’s Helena Costa were appointed in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
Nemcic was handed the reigns at Croatian fifth Division side NK Viktorija Vojakovac while French Division Two outfit Clermont Foot 63 appointed Costa head coach last year on a two-year contract.
Raymond Domenech, former French national team coach said then of Costa’s appointment; “Women know how to play football and how to manage and are good at doing it. Why shouldn’t they manage men’s teams? The opposite happens and doesn’t cause any problems.
“It’s a natural choice and reflects our society in which women are equal to men. I say well done to president Michy. I told myself that if I took charge of a club again, I’d hire a woman as my number two. He beat me to it.” — Sports Reporter/Online.
Online Reporter