Peter Tanyanyiwa
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THEIR rugged, rough ride in the Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League mirrors the actual road that leads to their physical location.
The struggles accurately reflect where they are coming from.
They reflect their structure, philosophy, system and an acute lack of resourcing.
For about 27km off the Nyazura-Dorowa road, one is subjected to a turbulent adventure in the unpaved gravel path that has all sorts of impediments.
It has sharp curves, meanders, potholes, huge boulders, gulleys and in some points, tree climbers kissing in its midst.
It’s that channel that takes one to Nyamidzi Secondary School where Red Buffalo are housed.
Their football pitch is as uneven as they come. Consequently, this students-only team cannot host top-flight games.
New in the league, they have had to hire a home to entertain guests at Vengere Stadium in Rusape.
That’s a good 300km return-trip plus US$300 ground-hire fee on top of around US$350 transport and overhead costs.
With an average age of just 16, the Nyazura club have expectedly been underweight in the league.
They sit bottom of the log at the halfway mark with a single point in 15 games, three points behind fellow strugglers Black Mambas Queens, from whom they scrapped that point.
They have conceded an incredible 105 goals while scoring six themselves to return a minus 99 goal difference.
They are most certainly heading back to Division One after just a single season’s dance with the elite league, unless something unbelievably gigantic and miraculous happens.
Ideally, their sorry stats represent some failure of unbelievable proportion.
But not this Red Buffalo.
They have got what they set out to do at their modest school home and proving that football can be a powerful tool that can transform society.
This is a team of schoolgirls that is dominating the other side of the coin.
They are the NASH Manicaland provincial champions and they could soon be the national champions if they go on to win the finals set for Masvingo between today and tomorrow.
That’s their double life.
One day, they are Red Buffalo playing in the ZWPSL and the other, they are Nyamidzi Secondary School team playing in NASH tournaments.
“The Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League experience has been somewhat sweet and somewhat sour but all the same, we have managed to see the transformative power of football that we always longed to attain,” said Ellina Kaluwa, Nyamidzi Secondary School head.
“As a school located in this remote area, we obviously struggle to raise enough money because even paying school fees alone is a huge struggle for parents.
“But we also face a lot of difficulties by virtue of being located here.
“Quite a number of girls have dropped out of school due to early marriages or being forced to marry.
“But the football project has helped us change all that in a huge manner. More and more girls now believe they can make the grade into the team and the discipline and dedication is massive.
“Indiscipline cases at my school have sharply dropped as both girls and boys now see a lot of purpose in playing football in particular and sport in general.
“Our girls are getting to mix and mingle with the best and well-paid colleagues from across the league. They are getting inspired with the exposure alone.”
For Kelly Mukunga, the ZWPSL experience has changed the way she used to view the world.
“Yes, we are struggling in the field of play because of our lack of experience as mere schoolgirls. We lack adequate resources as well but whatever the case might be, the exposure we are getting by participating in the ZWPL is out of this world,” said Mukunga.
“I am currently in Form 4 and preparing to write my final ZIMSEC examinations. I am not the only one in our team. We are about nine, 10 preparing for final exams. The rest are our juniors.
“What we have been getting from interacting with others in the league is that you can be a prolific player while also having another profession like in the case of Rudo Neshamba of Chapungu Queens.
“We have interacted with other players like Emmaculate Msipa who is based overseas and we have learnt that with hard work everything is possible.”
The Red Buffalo girls might not be getting any salaries or allowances from playing in the top-tier but the profit is being felt across the whole Nyazura South community.
Gibson Mavhera, whose sister Nicolete plays for the team hailed the initiative saying “Red Buffalo has become the cement to stitch our community together.
“I am a father of three and survive on menial jobs in the villages. We know that we have to work then go and support the girls in training and in matches. Even people who used to quarrel amongst themselves as villagers have been brought together by the Red Buffalo cause.
“For the community, Red Buffalo represent much more than a football team. It represents us, it brings us together, it reminds us of the blood that flows in our veins. It is our identity. It doesn’t matter whether they are winning or losing matches, for us, what’s important is that it is our blood, our DNA.”
Coach Kudzai Maibvise said they are still looking for sponsors.
“Our wish is to one day be able to give our players salaries and allowances to further motivate them. We are struggling financially and we are already in debt,” said Maibvise.
“But most definitely our girls are enjoying life in the Premiership.
“The vibe across the villages is unbelievable. I can only imagine what it could have been playing home games at our own ground. But the project is absolutely springing with zeal, desire and passion.”
Online Reporter