Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League have set sights on transforming their clubs into professional entities by implementation of the FIFA Club Licensing system.
This comes after the league postponed the start of the season from April 5 to April 25, to allow for clubs to adjust to the dictates of club licensing.
While it may be early for the clubs to entirely abide by the FIFA Club Licensing rules, the league will, for a start, have to conform to the selected provisions.
ZWPSL chair, Chido Chizondo, said clubs’ implementation of FIFA Club Licensing system will allow for the league to also professionalise.
“Currently, we are in the process of setting up structures for the league which has been running without a professional-systems for close to a decade,” said Chizondo.
“Part of the process requires teams to comply with FIFA club licensing demands and pave the way for professionalism to prevail in the women’s domestic leagues.
“We know this is a long road, especially considering the state of our league but for us to get there we need to start from somewhere.
“So far, we are moving slowly and clubs are complying…this week we will be visiting them (clubs) to assess how far they have gone, establish the challenges some are facing and see the way forward.”
To allow for club licensing and compliance with other protocols, the league had to postpone the commencement of the season from April 5 to April 25.
For years, issues of sponsorship have taken centre stage in ZWPSL conversations with many accusing the executives of not doing enough to find financial backing for the financially crippled clubs.
However, without solid structures, it will be difficult for the league to attract meaningful sponsorship.
“To make progress in terms of sponsorship we need to start by creating an image for our game first,” added Chizondo.
“Then we come up with proper structures after which we can go on to talk about everything else including sponsorship…
“Potential sponsors want to come in an environment that inspires confidence in them so this is much of what we are working on.”
ZWPSL are also engaging ZIFA to assist them source a grant which will help run their season.
According to the ZWPSL, the funds will go towards payments of match officials, ambulance and paramedics among other areas that are key on matchday.
Based on standard ZIFA approved rates, match officials and the match commissioner in the ZWPSL are expected to cost at least US$360 per game.
Mathew Masinge