Chronicle Editor
Shingai Dhlamini, [email protected]
WATSON Phiri, is a Bulawayo man who has over the years committed his life to football grassroots development and most recently he has developed a soft spot for imparting his knowledge to girls.
Phiri is the brains behind the formation of Nketa 8 suburb based Bulawayo Galaxy team.
The club plays in the Zifa Bulawayo province Division Two League.
“I love the game of football and I have a passion to uplift the girl child through football. Two years ago I established a girls football club in my own neighbourhood called Bulawayo Galaxy. It’s all about affording the girl child equal opportunity in sport,” said Phiri who doubles up as the team’s coach.
The team has established its base at grounds adjacent to Nketa 8 Hall.
“This is my way of giving back to the community as the team is meant to assist the community to empower the girls through nurturing their football talents instead of being idle. When they have nothing to do, they tend to engage in drug abuse, prostitution and some become victims of child marriages,” said Phiri.
He said he realised that most of the time the girl child is not given the same recognition as the boy hence his decision to assist the girls to develop their football careers.
“In some societies the girl child is denied her right to education and girls who decide to engage in sporting activities such as playing football at times lack support even from their own parents,” said Phiri.
He said since most of the girls playing for his team could not contribute to the running of the team, he was meeting all the expenses involved.
Phiri appealed to individuals and companies to assist with resources to buy training kits, a first aid kit and money for the girls’ transport from home to the training venue as well as transport for away matches.
Online Reporter