Chronicle Editor
Shingai Dhlamini
PRECIOUS ‘Gringo’ Mpala, a former Mighty Warriors player and versatile star for New Orleans, has taken on a new role as coach for Lobengula City Queens.
Mpala was appointed to the post after returning from South Africa where she had relocated for years.
She gained prominence for her uncanny appetite for success as a defender, making it hard for opponents to beat her, and later as a prolific striker, scoring for both club and country in the 1990s and early 2000s.
After attaining a Level 1 coaching certificate in 2006, Mpala made it her goal to impart her knowledge to the next generation of girls in football.
She hopes to inspire young women to pursue football as a means of staying off the streets and avoiding the societal ills of drug abuse and early marriage.
“It has been in my plans to become a coach after so many years of playing football. Now that l have a chance to do so, l want to show the nation a new and different Precious, who’s going to impart knowledge to the girl child,” said Mpala.
Her late father, Ernest Mpala, who was also a notable figure in local football, and made an impact on the game at a national level, inspired her to pursue her passion.
A former player and coach, the older Mpala made his mark as coach of Railstars, Mthala, New Orleans and the Mighty Warriors.
As a first-time coach, she plans to focus on unity among her team and hopes they will succeed in winning medals and tournaments.
“Football will move these girls from the streets; they will be away from drugs and substance abuse, and protect them from societal ills like early pregnancies and marriages. l want them to do better than me in terms of football and produce captains like Nomsa ‘Boyz’ Moyo,” she said.
Lobengula Queens tops the Southern Region Women’s Soccer League after three matches with seven points.
“As a first time coach, l want to see the team succeeding in getting medals, winning tournaments that will motivate them, but since this is my first year, l want them to unite as a team because unity always wins over any situation. So far I am happy with the team’s performance,” she said.
She encouraged other women in sports to support young girls in achieving their dreams and to promote programmes that prevent negative life experiences.
“Let’s unite in supporting our girls, promote programmes that uplift and raise awareness against drug abuse and everything negative that can destroy their future. Let’s unite for the betterment of our girl child,” she said.
Lobengula City Queens’ founding director, Sibekiwe Ndlovu, is thrilled to have a committed coach and legend of the game leading their team.
“I am happy that we have a local resident who is a coach and a legend of the game. She will inspire the girls to reach her heights,” said Ndlovu.
Online Reporter