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Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
OF the 37 candidates vying for six board member positions in the upcoming ZIFA elections, only six are female, translating to a mere 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, to the credit of those who crafted it, guarantees that one of the two ZIFA deputies should be a woman.
But a number of football personalities, including the legendary Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, are advocating for more women on the board.
Mtizwa, a former national team player who also won league championships with CAPS United and Black Rhinos back in the 1980s, 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,” said Mtizwa.
Mtizwa is one of the finest generations of players to play for CAPS United and Black Rhinos who included Joel Shambo, Stanley Ndunduma, Shacky Tauro, Friday Phiri and Hamid Dhana.
He made multiple appearances on the Soccer Stars calendar in the 1980s.
Kadzombe has been instrumental in promoting grassroots football in high-density suburbs like Highfield.
Her academy produced a number of the new generation of stars, including 2023 Soccer Star of the Year runner-up Donald Mudadi and former Ngezi Platinum Stars striker Delic Murimba.
“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.
“Out there, we have a lot of men, and only six women are running for that position,” Mtizwa said.
Online Reporter