Wenslus Murape
Veronica Gwaze, Sports Reporter
IN THE past week, women football circles have been abuzz following a mega sponsorship deal for Zimbabwe Women Soccer League, courtesy of the Heart group.
The Heart Group, fronted by Yadah FC owner prophet Walter Magaya recently unveiled a US$320 000 sponsorship deal for the women’s league.
Set to transform domestic women football, the windfall comes at a time when ZWSL had for years endured acute financial challenges.
The current league championship campaign, which started in May and ends in November, ZWSL had to rebrand to the Heart League.
The Heart group also introduced the inaugural edition of the ‘Heart Cup’ tournament which, going forward, will be an annual competition. Women football followers were left with renewed excitement and hope as Zimbabwe seeks to reclaim its spot as a regional female soccer powerhouse.
However, some questions have been thrown around by a section of stakeholders who feel that this first of its kind deal seems too good to be true.
Others also questioned whether or not the finances have already been handed over to the league administrators.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sport, league chair Theresa Maguraushe revealed that they are finalizing the paperwork to allow for The Heart Group to release the funds.
“The public should understand it is the Heart Group sponsoring the league, the prophet is part of the group, in fact he leads them so we should not mix-up the issues,” she said. Currently we are finalizing modalities so that funds can be released.”
Of the US$320 000 sponsorship package, only US$120 will go towards the league.
This is meant to bankroll the league for the remaining three months of the season and end of year Soccer Star Awards which are meant to be held for the first time, this year.
The other US$200 000 has been injected towards the Heart Cup.
With all the league’s 16 teams meant to participate, the Cup competition kicks off today at various venues across the country.
The losing eight teams will be eliminated from the competition.
On the other hand, the remaining eight will in mid-September converge at The Heart Stadium for the finals.
“So this US$200 000 will go to the running of the cup competition and the prize monies,” said Maguraushe.
“So far the arrangement is that the top eight teams who are meant to take part in the quarter finals, semis and the finals will be camped at Yadah Hotel throughout the competition. Part of the budget will go towards all that so basically we are looking at a new dawn for women football, all thanks to The Heart group.”
Founder and CEO of the Southern African Football Business Forum Terrence Malunga notes that the mega sponsorship will go a long way in breathing life to the league.
He said this is the opportune time for league professionalisation.
“From a legal perspective, such a windfall should help these teams or the league itself to go professional,” he said.
“Observing the trends on an international scale, there is so much that domestic football needs to do, it is now time to find ways to better package our product.
“A well packaged product will lure more sponsors which is exactly what we need going forward.”
On the continent, 23-year-old Zambian Racheal Kundananji is the most expensive female footballer after joining Bay FC from Madrid CFF for US$788,000 (£620,000).
Malunga believes that with a conducive environment, Zimbabwe also has the potential to produce stars.
“The 2016 Rio de Janeiro story tells a lot, we have the talent and it is up to us to create the proper environment,” he said.
“However, looking at where we are coming from, it will be a huge process to achieve all this hence the need for patience and consistency.”
While the Maguraushe led committee is finalizing the league constitution issue, clubs this season also made it compulsory for teams to register their players on FIFA-Connect.
Currently, teams have been ordered to come up with clear player contracts that state the commencement and duration of their player-club agreements to curb player exploitation.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter