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Ellina Mhlanga Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE Women’s Football chairperson, Miriam Sibanda, continued with her duties yesterday as she held a meeting with the Super League clubs at City Sports Centre to map the way forward for the forthcoming season.
Also in attendance were board members development, Ben Mamoche, and board member finance, Edwin Magosvongwe, who were also suspended during Monday’s controversial extraordinary emergency meeting at the ZIFA Village.
Sibanda yesterday said their suspension was null and void. “Like I’ve said before, to me that was a nullity, that’s why we were able to hold this meeting,” said Sibanda.
“It’s business as usual, we want to be doing football and not spend time politicking.
“I was elected to ensure that girls are playing and that’s what I’m trying to do.
“I was waiting to get the official communication, now that I’ve received it I’m going to advise the Zifa president and my colleagues on the board so that they know that there’s such an issue.
“As far as I’m concerned I’m still chairperson of women football and we’re running football with my board.”
During yesterday’s meeting, it was agreed that the league starts on the weekend of May 9 to 10 with 11 clubs participating.
Some of the clubs that attended the meeting were ZRP Harare, ZRP Morris, Mwenezana, Borrow Jets, Auckland Queens, Cowdray Park Queens, Chapungu Queens, Hwange Ladies and Tenax Queens while Black Rhinos and Faith Drive sent their apologies.
They confirmed yesterday they’ll be part of the league and all the clubs have paid their affiliation fees set at $1,000. “This meeting was attended by our Super League clubs and the regions that feed into our Super League,” said Sibanda.
“So, today (yesterday), we had 11 clubs and one region and we formed a quorum. We’ve agreed to start our season on the weekend of 9th to the 10th of May with 11 clubs.
“Last year, effectively we ended up with 13 clubs that were participating, two didn’t turn up.
“Initially, we were supposed to have 16 clubs but last year we couldn’t get the 16 clubs to affiliate, so we ended up playing with 13, so now we’re down to 11.
“We’re actually just one short because as an executive we felt that we needed to have less clubs to work with.
“Clubs that we’re then able to nurture and help them develop and play football profitably and professionally.”
Sibanda said they’ll sit as a board to come up with the fixtures taking into account international events.
Mamoche said they’ll continue fulfilling their duties and will engage those who want to work with the board.
“The suspension letters we received, through email yesterday . . . we just received them through the administrator, who is Theresa Maguraushe.
“So far it’s business as usual like you’ve seen today the clubs have actually attended the meeting.
“They’re willing to play so we’re going to continue working with those that want to play football, that’s it,” said Mamoche.
Magosvongwe said they were waiting to hear from Zifa president, Cuthbert Dube, but added that they were still in charge of women’s football despite the resolutions made on Monday.
“Whatever happened in the past few days is unconstitutional. As a board, we’re led by Miriam Sibanda.
“We’re just waiting for Zifa to come out or maybe the president to come out with a statement.
“But as far as we know, we were voted into power and we’re still running women football in Zimbabwe. We just need to work with those that need to play football,” said Magosvongwe.
Online Reporter