SAUDI ARABIA’S LANDMARK RULING: Patience can now cheer on fiance Ndoro

Fungai Muderere
GIRL power!

While feminism in the West has a birdaï¿½ï¿½s eye view of entitlement on the global South and the Arab world, the relatively aï¿½?littleaï¿½? achievement that next year Arab women will be allowed to enter football stadiums could advantage Tendai aï¿½?Fire Sevenaï¿½? Ndoro because his number 1 supporter can possibly cheer him live.

His fiancAï¿½e Patience Ndlovu could be on the stands cheering him on aï¿½ï¿½ nothing new to her but something the footballer has not experienced since he moved to Saudi Arabia a few months ago. It was a culture shock for Ndoro who once posted on Facebook about his amazement.

aï¿½?Women are not allowed anywhere near sports stadia. Ngendlela abagqoka ngayo, vele imai zangapha azivezi buso (Women from Saudi Arabia donaï¿½ï¿½t even show their faces, courtesy of their dress code),aï¿½? said Ndoro.

It has been a long time coming for Saudi women as in September, hundreds of women were allowed to enter a sports stadium in Riyadh, used mostly for football matches, in a once-off event to celebrate Saudi Arabiaaï¿½ï¿½s national day.

The recent announcement implies that women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed for the first time to attend sporting events inside stadiums alongside men.

Under the countryaï¿½ï¿½s guardianship system, a male family member aï¿½ï¿½ normally the father, husband or brother aï¿½ï¿½ must grant permission for a womanaï¿½ï¿½s study, travel and other activities.

But the kingdom appears to be relaxing some norms as part of its sweeping aï¿½?Vision 2030aï¿½? plan for economic and social reforms as it prepares for a post-oil era.

Last month a royal decree said women would be allowed to drive. The kingdom is also expected to lift a public ban on cinemas and has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations aï¿½ï¿½ something that was unheard of before. .