Mena��s Five-A-side League inspire women clubs

THE fast growing Southern Region Five-A-Side League has inspired Bulawayo womena��s clubs affiliated to the regular football format to consider competing with each other in the former version of the game.

Southern Region Five-A-side vice chairman Chance Moyo said seven womena��s clubs that include the Lee Mangena-mentored Street Set, Ubuntu, Domion Life Church , Fire of Grace , Power Plant and Flame Stars have greatly considered to be part of the league although they would not be competingA� regularly in the small version of the game.

a�?The womena��s clubs will have their mini-league. Ita��s a first for the league and they will not compete on a regular basis because they are affiliated to the eleven-a-side league. We wish to see more women clubs come on board.

a�?We are looking forward to having about 12 competing female clubs. Funds permitting, our Five-A-side League is set to grow. There have been sponsorship promises and we hope the business community will come on board soon,a�? said Moyo on the sidelines of the Independence Cup second group matches that were played atA� the Grassroots Soccer Football for Hope Centre in Gwabalanda last weekend.

The matches saw Black Stars wallop Cash Money 4-1 while Sibusiso Moyo inspired Fox to beat Nust 7-5. Gifted Godwill Moyo scored all the five goals for Nust.

Bulawayo Artists, who boast of the services of former Simunye Simunye director Future Dube and administrator of Siyaya Arts, Thulani Sibanda popularly known as Javas walked over Cowdray Park on a 3-0 scoreline.

Despite being founded six years ago the Southern Region Five-a-side League has failed to run smoothly over the years with the league programme sometimes abandoned half-way into a season due to financial constraints and lack of a proper administration set-up.

The league, however, hopes to have a smooth sailing 2017 season and has begun regularising their operations starting with a Zifa Futsal Level One training course for coaches, referees and administrators last year.

League chairman Philani Banda said: a�?This was the first course for five-a-side football coaches, referees and administrators in Bulawayo as we prepared to run the league professionally in preparation for the 2017 season.

a�?We have structures in place but lack of training for our coaches, referees and administrators stood in the way of running the league in the same manner as our sister entity the Premier Soccer League.a�?