Mutyavaviri’s chance to shine

The leftback will be leaving for Sweden this Sunday and is expected to return on June 20, and if she makes the grade at the club, whose men’s team is home to Archford Gutu, she will get a two-year contract.
The Mufakose Queens star will be training and featuring in matches for the club and the Swedish Federation has since requested for an International Transfer Clearance from Zifa.
Yesterday, Gutu’s manager Calvin “Currypie” Nyazema, who has facilitated the move, said they were looking forward to brokering more women’s soccer deals.
“We organised this through our partners Sportnet International and I am a local scout for Southern Africa together with Eldebert Dinha.
“When I was in Sweden in January I spoke to the clubs with a view of bringing talented female footballers and had a follow-up in February, so we applied for a visa and it came out this week and the club have sent an air ticket.
“Her club Mufakose Queens have given us the green light and Zifa have been handling the clearance part.
“She is not going for trials but would be on attachment with a weekly allowance as well as accommodation and food. If they are impressed they will give her a two-year contract even before the three months lapse.
“We are taking her there as a centre back as they required one and she has the requirements needed to play in Europe,” said Nyazema.
The Harare agent said they were now also focusing on women’s football.
“We have been dealing with the male players but realised that with the way the Mighty Warriors are doing there is talent and can also assist them with securing professional clubs abroad.
“And if she impresses we are likely to have more players going not only to Sweden but other leagues in Europe.
“At Kalmar FF they already have an African player, a Senegalese midfielder who is in the first team, and was voted in the top five of the women’s sports persons in the region.
“I think the local players suit the European style and are doing well and we believe with the sponsorship of Marange Resources our base for selection would be wider,” said Nyazema.
The lanky defender, who has been a key figure in the Mighty Warriors squad which is seeking a place at the African Women Championships to be held later this year in Equatorial Guinea, was naturally elated with the development.
However, the defender is set to miss both legs of the tie against the Super Falcons in Nigeria at home in May and the reverse tie in the West African nation in June unless she returns home for the matches.
Mutyavaviri started playing football in 1999 at Mufakose Queens under coach Langton Giwa and in 2004 broke into the national Under-20 team and three years later graduated into the senior team.
The defender had a two-year stint in South Africa from 2008 to 2010 and played alongside Banyana Banyana players such as Nompulelo Nyandeni, who is now based in Russia, goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni and defender Simphiwe Masina.
The defender has a knack of scoring long range goals and in January scored a beauty when the Mighty Warriors beat Botswana 2-1 at Rufaro to progress to the last qualifying round of the women’s version of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old is one of the talented players to emerge from Mufakose Queens which, under the guidance of gaffer Langton Giwa, have groomed players such as former Mighty Warriors defender Melody Musasa, goalkeeper Onai Chingawo and midfielder Marjoury Nyaumwe.
Nyaumwe has also been invited to Germany for trials with a First Bundesliga club FCR 2001 Duisburg after she impressed during the tour of Germany by the national team last August. Nyaumwe, who now plays for Aces Youth Academy is set to go for trials later this year as Zimbabwe women’s soccer begin to reap the fruits of their hard work.
Mufakose Queens owner, Stephen Rutsito, who formed the club in the ‘90s, said they were happy with their contribution to the advancement of the Girl Child.
“We are happy with this development and it has always been our aim to promote these girls and we will  be happy if she makes it and raise the flag high out there,” said Rutsito.