dyton mupawaenda
Langton Nyakwenda
OF the 37 candidates vying for the six board member positions in the upcoming ZIFA elections, only six are women, translating to a mere a 16 percent representation of women on the candidates list.
ZIFA will hold elections for the president, his two deputies and six ordinary board members on January 25, amid growing calls for women to be given a chance in mainstream football administration. Kudzai Kadzombe, Alice Zeure, Sabelo Maphosa, Sibekiwe Ndlovu, Cecilia Gambe and Beaullar Msarah are the six women contesting for the ZIFA board member posts.
The new ZIFA constitution guarantees that one of the two ZIFA deputies should be a woman, but a number of football personalities, including the legendary Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, want to see more women on the board.
Mtizwa has endorsed Dutch Academy director Kudzai Kadzombe for the board member position.
“I have known Kudzai Kadzombe for a very long time, together with her husband they have been sponsoring football for a very long time through Dutch Academy.
“The academy has produced a number of players who have gone to play for premier Soccer League teams even across the Limpopo in South Africa.
“Kadzombe has also tried to revive Area Zone football in Highfield, introducing a 16-team tournament, that was well subscribed.
“She bought kits for the teams and winners walked away with a trophy and money. That commitment speaks volumes of what she can do if she is voted to become a ZIFA Board member. Kadzombe is a young and vibrant woman and I endorse her.
“If you look at the list of candidates for the ZIFA Board, we have a lot of men and very few women.
“So my idea is that we should give these few ladies a chance.”
Online Reporter