New team joins women league

Raymond Jaravaza
THE Southern Region Womenaï¿½ï¿½s League is set to be joined by a new team aï¿½ï¿½ Gideon Ladies Academy aï¿½ï¿½ when the season starts in May.

The new club was formed late last year and draws all of its players from Luveve High School.

aï¿½?The directors of the new team have indicated that they would like to join our league and we have no problem with that as long as they will meet our requirements such as payment of affiliation fees, a clear club code of conduct, a club constitution and making an undertaking that they will fulfill fixtures and pay match officials,aï¿½? said Southern Region Womenaï¿½ï¿½s League chairman Takundwa Chimundiya.

Gideon Ladies Academy co-founder, Ayanda Sibanda, is a pioneer of women football at Luveve High School in 2006.

aï¿½?We asked our playersaï¿½ï¿½ parents and custodians to sign consent forms to allow their children to join the club and I must say the support from the community has been encouraging. Because our players also play for Luveve High School it was easier to convince their parents and guardians to allow them to join the club.

aï¿½?As a club we have also made an undertaking to assist our players with stationery that will be donated by some of the club directors who are based in the UK and South Africa,aï¿½? said co-founder and team coach Sibanda.

The local league is expected to begin in May but the number of teams to compete will be determined by the formation of a national premier league mooted by the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League executive led by Rosemary Kanonge.

If the formation of a national premier league goes ahead Bulawayo clubs such as Inline Academy and Hearts of Oak will have to complete against other big clubs from around the country and forgo participation in the local league. But concerns have been raised as to whether teams will be able to travel across the country to fulfill matches without sound sponsorship.Aï¿½ A Bulawayo team, for instance, will be required to travel to Harare, Hwange and Gweru to play weekly matches yet most clubs can barely afford to buy their players uniforms. .