Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE new ZIFA board have pledged to follow up a promise made nine years ago to reward the Mighty Warriors with 30 residential stands following their success in international competitions.
This was revealed by the association’s president Nqobile Magwizi when he made presentations to the Sports and Recreation Commission seeking assistance to bring the long standing matter to finality.
“When the women went to the Olympics in 2016, they were promised some stands. Am I correct?” he said in his discussions with the SRC board members and staff.
“So, we are going to come to you with that issue. We want to follow it up. That’s what we want. These national team players who raised our flag high during that time were given that promise.
“So, I hope you will be able to enlighten us with that one because it’s a very important aspect. It sets the right tone and right attitude even for us as an administration to be able to fulfil our obligations,” said Magwizi.
The Mighty Warriors became the first football team from this country to qualify for the finals of a major global event when they made it to the Olympic Games in 2016.
They beat Cameroon in the final qualifier the previous year to achieve the feat.
The Mighty Warriors again qualified to the finals of the Africa Women Cup of Nations when they beat Zambia in the final qualifying round.
Sports Commission chairman Gerald Mlotshwa concurred that the promise was made publicly and it has to be fulfilled.
Fellow Commissioner Nigel Munyati said women’s football has not been taken seriously.
“It’s actually reminding me of something about football and women. There has been a tendency to look at women’s football as an institution of a lower grade, with more attention given to the Warriors than the Mighty Warriors, they don’t get the same attention.
“But something that I should remind us all is that the most successful achievements in Zimbabwean football are actually through women’s football.
“They made it to the Olympics in 2016; the men haven’t gotten that far. So, we must appreciate that. I think it’s an area that needs to change,” said Munyati.
Mathew Masinge