Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the Zimbabwe Women Premiership football season kick-off approaches, clubs are pinning their hopes on the remaining three weeks for the league to secure a title sponsor and ease their burden for the campaign.
The league is set to start on April 4 with fixtures already out.
For a league, which has been running without a title sponsor for years, there has been widespread anxiety with the clubs fearing another gruelling season without financial backing.
Without funding, the new season could be an exhausting test punctuated by lack of remuneration for players, travel and camping difficulties, and no prize money for best performers.
Traditionally, women’s football has struggled for visibility and commercial backing compared to the men’s game.
Locally, this has been reflected by the absence of a major league sponsor since the inception of the ZWPSL.
Women’s teams, most of whom are individually owned, have for long struggled to lure sponsorship.
In 2024, Masvingo-based side Shine-shine faced acute financial challenges in their maiden top-flight season resulting in them missing fixtures and eventually being demoted.
Last year, Nyazura’s Red Buffaloes and Mpopoma Academy from Bulawayo faced similar challenges, resulting in them either postponing or being walked over in some fixtures.
However, the current ZWPSL executive, led by Chido Chizondo, are committed to secure sponsorship before season kick-off as they continue to make frantic efforts exploring various avenues.
“Securing sponsorship remains our key priority, but it is equally important that the league continues to grow and provide a consistent, competitive platform for women’s football,” said Chizondo.
“We have been engaging with a number of potential sponsors, nothing solid has come out yet but we remain optimistic that a breakthrough will come in time.”
Chizondo added:
“It is difficult to talk corporates into sponsoring the women’s game, we have approached many potential sponsors and some of them have been candid to say they are not committed to women’s football.
“We remain committed to taking the best possible path for the league.”
Globally, FIFA have intensified their focus on developing the women’s game through targeted strategies and funding support for leagues.
Locally, there has been encouraging progress, with clubs strengthening their brands and increasingly integrating women’s teams into their broader club structures.
These developments could also help to build a stronger ecosystem for the women’s game.
“Our priority now is to consolidate these positive trends by leveraging growing institutional support, stronger club participation, and improved structures,” Chizondo said.
Mathew Masinge