Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WORLD football governing body FIFA have thrown their weight behind ZIFA’s spirited efforts to turnaround the women’s game, with the international federation yesterday pledging to fully back the move.
This comes after ZIFA, with the support from FIFA launched a ZIFA Women’s Football Development Strategy in the capital.
Running under the theme “Her Game, Her Time”, the ZIFA women’s Football Strategy is set to be rolled out between 2025 and 2028, starting from grassroots to elite level.
And yesterday the process initially started by the Normalisation Committee officially got underway in the capital.
The strategy document is aimed at setting direction for the resuscitation and professionalising of the women’s game.
It also comes as feedback following stakeholders’ consultative meetings that were held by the association, together with FIFA experts across the country earlier in the year.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sport at the launch ZIFA vice-president Loveness Mukura said the start marks an important milestone in their ongoing efforts to strengthen, professionalise and elevate the women’s game in the country.
“Today is more than a ceremonial occasion, it is the beginning of a new era for the women’s game and a moment that reflects our commitment, unity of purpose and our belief in the potential in women’s football in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“We appreciate FIFA for their support throughout, they walked the path with us from capacity building to technical guidance, resources and expertise.
“We also appreciate the ZIFA executive committee who since coming into office have pledged commitment to the women’s game, viewing it as a centre for national development agenda.”
Since assuming office, ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi and his executive have been all out with the goal of revitalising the women’s game at all levels.
Mukura acknowledged that Magwizi’s leadership gave rise to the nationwide consultative forums, which form the bedrock of this Women’s football strategy.
Those forums, she said, were crucial listening exercises that brought together voices from schools, clubs, academies, regional structures, players, coaches, administrators and communities.
“The strategy, therefore, is not an abstract version but a product of national dialogue, shared aspirations, and collective wisdom of the football family.
“The women’s leadership also made sure that this process was inclusive, well researched and anchored around realities and our ambitions.”
The strategy is built around five interconnected pillars which give structure and ambition and represent the path-way through which the game will be transformed.
Key to the pillars is the player pathway, which seeks to build a clear and coherent conduit for girls from grassroots to elite football.
Under this pillar, ZIFA will ensure that Zimbabwe produces competitive players with much investment in the Un-der-8, Under-13, Under-17 and Under-20s age groups.
These pathways will aid the creation of platforms where talent can be identified, nurtured and maintained in a more aggressive, accommodative and transparent manner.
FIFA Women’s Football Technical Expert Thubelihle Sibanda said the ZIFA Women’s Football Strategy also emphasises stronger schools football structures, partnerships with NAPH and NASH, meaningful competitions, Safeguarding training and consistent scouting.
Part of the suggestions are that football be played throughout the year in schools.
This pillar, she notes, also allows for non-exclusion of young girls for any reason in getting a chance to belong, develop and build confidence in football from a tender age.
“The other most important pillar is on talent and performance which is to do with national teams and the elite environment,” she said.
“It aims to build a structured high-performance culture, one that promotes regular training camps, quality coaching, robust scouting systems, scientific support and competitive participation.”
However, ZIFA Women Football Development officer Ivy Mukahanana expressed concern over lesser women’s participation in the game’s issues.
Currently, Zimbabwe has only 2000 players licensed on FIFA Connect and 13 CAF licensed female coaches and 10 women commissioners across the country.
Mukahanana called for more women’s participation in the coming year underscoring ZIFA’s growing commitment to empowering their personnel and ensuring that they create a conducive environment for the development of the women’s game.
“The launch of this strategy should be a turnaround moment for women’s football, as Zimbabwe we are still lagging behind especially in embracing FIFA connect licensing, which is one of FIFA’s blueprints for our game’s development,” she said.
“While the local game has made strides in pushing for the certification of coaches, these statistics show that we are still lagging behind.
“Our game cannot evolve if we take lightly these issues so I can assure you that we are going to see more women getting involved in the game next year, further this strategy cannot serve a purpose if it is not implemented…we now need all hands on deck as we implement it.” Currently, ZIFA have four national teams under Women Football (U-15, U-17, U-20 and senior team) while provincial leagues are also active despite the low participation.
