Online Reporter
Sukoluhle Mthethwa, Sports Correspondent
WHENEVER there is mention of women’s soccer in Zimbabwe names like Nomsa ‘Boyz’ Moyo, Precious ‘Gringo’ Mpala, Ruth Banda-Nyandoro, Sithethelelwe ‘Kwinji 15’ and Rosemary Mugadza pop up.
Despite the huge impact they had in the upliftment of the sport during their playing days, Mighty Warriors legend Moyo believes more can be done by improving remuneration for the girl child in sport.
Sunday Life caught up with Moyo this week and she spoke about her passion for the sport and where she believes it can be improved.
“We need to make some changes in women’s soccer in the near future or even next year. We should have women’s soccer players having a set minimum wage and a standard contract for every player who plays in the league,” said the former Mighty Warriors captain.
Moyo said there is need for vibrant marketing of women’s soccer.
“There should be marketing of women’s soccer and its matches because we need people to pay a small token so that they can watch the matches just like in men’s soccer. There is so much talent in Zimbabwe but as long as our communities don’t respect it, it won’t grow and we appeal to the corporate world not to shun women’s soccer. They should support it just like the way they support men’s soccer teams,” she said.
Moyo said more needs to be done for women’s soccer so that every girl who is interested in the sport can get a chance.
“We have talent in Zimbabwe but as long as there is no support from the communities and the corporate world like the way they do to men it will take years for us to get back to where we were from 2000-2010. Support is needed.
Let us not only look at Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru and Mutare, let’s diversify so that in all provinces and regions there is women’s soccer for example we must have competitive leagues in Hwange, Plumtree so that the national team selectors will have a wider selection base.”
She said it’s important to market the game as football is now a source of livelihood.
“We used to play for fun and entertain people. We used to enjoy playing football but we were not getting anything from it. Zifa and sponsors are trying as well. Women’s soccer is being recognised but more can be still be done,” she said.
Moyo said remuneration should be the same for both women and men who play soccer.
“In other countries there is a minimum wage for all national teams. The amount of money paid out to men is now the same as for the girls. All the players represent the country playing the same sport so it should be the same,” she said.
Moyo took time to explain why she was called ‘Boyz’ and how she initially got involved in the sport.
“Coach Benedict Moyo believed in me a lot. He always said I was very brave and I behaved like a boy. Moyo gave me the nickname ‘Boyz’. He was a father figure to me,” she said of her former Mighty Warriors coach.
Born on 4 May 1983, the Mighty Warriors legend did her primary school at Lozikeyi Primary School and did her secondary education at Sobukhazi.
“I started playing football when I was at primary school. Growing up I used to play with boys. I used to push tyres with them, make wire cars and use mud to make animals. So when it was time to play soccer I would join them as well. My father Keystone Mbanje Moyo and my late brother also had an influence in me taking up soccer as a sport.
My dad used to play football and later on he would take me along when he was going to watch football matches. My late brother Mike used to play for Mbalabala so he would also take me along,” she said.
She did not face any resistance when she showed she had a passion for women’s soccer.
“I never had any problem because I was coming from a sporting background. My mother used to play netball. So she also encouraged me to carry on and told me that I don’t know what tomorrow holds so I should continue,” she said.
Such was her love for soccer that she used a tennis ball to play during break time at Sobukhazi.
“I moved from Lozikeyi to Sobukhazi with most of the boys I was playing with. So during break time we would go to the basketball court and use a tennis ball to play soccer. Some students were shocked to see a girl playing with boys as I was doing. But it was not difficult because most of the boys knew me from our primary school days as a soccer player.
We got used to each other and played as a family.”
After her secondary school days Moyo decided to continue with her passion which saw her join Zimbabwe Saints Royals and later moved to Highlanders Royals.
While still turning out for Highlanders Royals, Moyo was spotted by the late Haverson Masilela during one of the soccer tournaments at Njube’s Desert stadium.
“There was a Johnson & Johnson tournament at Desert Ground in Njube. I was named as the tournament’s best midfielder,” said Moyo.
Little did she know that this would mark a complete turn in her career.
“Masilela asked if he could come and see my parents at home so I gave him our home address and their phone number. He came home and spoke to my parents that is how I joined New Orleans,” she said.
Moyo suddenly saw that things were handled differently at the club.
“In my first training session at New Orleans I immediately noted a difference. The session was starting at 3PM but both boys and girls were there. They were many girls there. I was surprised to note that there were teams which have girls who are serious. From then on I could see that this is the kind of team I wanted to play for as they were serious,” she said.
“I was selected to be part of the Bulawayo Provincial Squad and then I got a national team call up. I was so excited. I was told that my passport should always be readily available. My parents were happy. They encouraged me to follow rules just like I was doing at home.”
Moyo remembers her first national team call up.
“My first national team call up was in the year 2000 it was a major tournament the Women’s Afcon. Zimbabwe was starting to feature in major tournaments. We won 11-0 against Namibia, I scored two goals. That motivated me to work even harder and my capping moment was taking part in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics,” she said.
In soccer jersey numbers are considered very important as most are associated with celebrated football icons.
“My favourite jersey numbers were 12 and 10. My favourite players were Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) and Diego Maradona (Argentina),” she said.
She said her former coach Benedict Moyo convinced her to take up jersey number 17.
“Moyo said I should take jersey number 17. He said that it would take me to heights he wanted me to reach. So I knew that he was seeing something in me and he knew my capabilities. So I told myself that I would make him proud,” said the former Mighty Warriors midfielder.
She indeed shined as she went on to represent the country in many tournaments.
Moyo said she excelled because of the support she got from the late Masilela and her former coach Bennedict Moyo.
She also singled out Pardon Nkomo whom she worked with at New Orleans and Mighty Warriors.
“Nkomo was my coach and more of a family friend and brother, he had a profound effect on my career too,” said Moyo of her New Orleans and Mighty Warriors coach.
