Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, [email protected]
IRENE Mwanza, a skilled English and IsiNdebele teacher from Hillside Teachers’ College, emerged as a true saviour for Victoria Falls City FC, steering the team away from relegation in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Victoria Falls City, a relatively young team having joined the league this season, found itself struggling, occupying the 13th position with a mere 23 points. Faced with the daunting prospect of relegation, the club’s management made the difficult decision to part ways with the technical team led by Phumulo “Coach Kanu” Mathe, Zibonele Ncube, and Ndoga Nyoni.
In a bold move, Mwanza, who had been serving as an assistant coach, was elevated to the interim head coach position. Tasked with the monumental challenge of rescuing the team, she swiftly galvanised the players and instilled a renewed sense of belief. Under her guidance, Victoria Falls City embarked on a remarkable turnaround, climbing from the depths of the relegation zone to secure an impressive 8th place finish with a total of 39 points by the end of the season.
ZPC Hwange secured the top spot with 79 points. Another Victoria Falls club, Mosi Rovers, finished second from the bottom with 27 points, while Ajax Hotspurs ended at the bottom with 12 points. DRC United and Jordan, both tied on 33 points, completed the list of four teams that were relegated.
At 40 years old, Mwanza, a dedicated Physical Education and Sports Science teacher at Mosi-oa-Tunya High School, is driven by an unwavering passion for the beautiful game. Her love for football was evident even while leading the Under-15 girls’ football team to the Caf African Schools Football Championships in Namibia from October 11th to 13th. It was during this time that she received the exciting news of her appointment as interim head coach for Victoria Falls City.
“The appointment came at a time when I had just been away from the team for a fortnight. I am humbled and honoured. I am also happy to be working with Innocent Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Sako, and Mthokozisi Ndlovu. We had a huge turnaround and survived relegation, finishing in the middle of the table. I have managed to achieve this mostly because of the support from my family and husband, and other coaches like Try Ncube who always encourages me. With the whole technical team, we are more like a family, and we have instilled unity among the players,” said Mwanza.
Mwanza’s commitment to sports is truly inspiring. She even made the bold decision to forego her graduation gown in pursuit of her passion. Her impressive qualifications include Level 1 and 2 Caf licences, a certificate in coaching styles, a Masterclass certificate in Strength and Conditioning, a coach education certificate, and a cricket elementary coaching certificate, all earned from renowned institutions such as Alison College and Major Sport Institution.
“I obtained a diploma in Education majoring in English and Ndebele, but I am now a Physical Education and Sports Science teacher, a role I took on with the introduction of the new education curriculum as a compulsory subject. I was groomed into these subjects and now teach PE from Form 1 to 4 and Sports Science at Advanced Level.
“I started coaching because of my background in sports. I was one of the assistant coaches at Mosi Rovers and when Victoria Falls City FC was formed, I also became an assistant this year before being made interim coach. The team was just two points above the relegation zone, but we managed to finish in the middle of the log, and they have said we should start preparing for next year,” said Mwanza.
Mwanza commended her team for their outstanding performance and surviving relegation. She expressed immense pride at being recognised in a male-dominated field, which has significantly boosted her confidence as a female coach. With the team’s league status secured, her next goal is to regain the trust of both supporters and sponsors.
Mwanza attributes her success to the unwavering support of her family, particularly her husband, Ndaba Ndlovu, a retired footballer who is now embarking on his own coaching career. The former student of JW Mthimkhulu Primary, Magwegwe Secondary, and Foundation College hails from a family with deep football roots. Her older brothers, John and Richard Mwanza, were professional footballers, with Richard even serving as the first-choice goalkeeper for Zimbabwe Saints. She is immensely grateful for the support of another brother, Stephen Mwanza, and credits Mbulelo Mwanza as her primary source of inspiration.
Mwanza and her husband are proud parents of two children — a five-year-old boy who already shows a promising talent for soccer, and a three-year-old girl.
She acknowledged that her road to success was not without challenges. Her dedication and resilience carried her through.
“Sport evolves daily, and we need to learn continuously, considering that I am a teacher and family person who must manage time and balance these things. I may be a senior coach at club level, but I am for continuity, hence I ensure our juniors at national team level are supported to make it to the national squad. For Victoria Falls City, my plan is to compete next year. We are working on acquiring players that can make the team stronger, and we hope to get the best,” she said.
Online Reporter