Women’s football feel the love

Loveness Mukura

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE Women’s football were yesterday feeling the love as they celebrated a historic first after being included in the national ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup main draw.

The draw for the round of 32 was conducted in Harare, pairing 31 women’s teams and 32 for the men.

One women’s side — Chegutu Community Queens received a Round of 32 bye.

Matches are scheduled to run concurrently nationwide from August 7-9.

It’s the first national cup tournament for women in Zimbabwe, who have long relied only on league football.

The last notable women’s cup was the short-lived 2024 Heart Cup hosted by PHD Ministries.

ZIFA vice-president Loveness Mukura, who oversees the women’s game, hailed their inclusion.

Mukura believes the tournament will also create a platform for the revival of the women’s game.

“Having women being drafted into such a major tournament is a huge milestone for the game because for so long women’s football has been relegated to the fringes of such programmes,” she said.

“The national tournament has brought in a new dimension in terms of recognition for women’s football, and issues to do with inclusivity, which makes us so excited that finally we get to walk in the same direction as men.”

Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League defending champions Herentals who are also the most stable and successful individually owned, will face Conduit Queens.

The Herentals College institution will have four franchises competing with three for the women and their men’s Premiership side.

Herentals Kwekwe Queens will welcome MPOSA, and the Herentals Junior Queens were drawn to travel to play Rufaro Starlets.

Mpopoma are also fielding two teams — the MPOSA senior team and MPOSA Area Zone, while Northern Region favourites Scottland Queens host ZWPSL debutants CAPS United Royals.

Zimbabwe Women’s football legends and former Mighty Warriors captains, Rosemary Mugadza and Talent Mandza, conducted the draw.

Mandaza reckons that the Munhumutapa Cup will draw attention for women’s football and give it the improved visibility, its industry and passion long deserved.

“I have been in women’s football for years, both as a player and now a technocrat, and there has never been such a huge tournament . . . the inclusion above everything makes us finally feel loved,” she said.

“The tournament creates a platform for talent identification and also goes a long way in terms of giving players, largely those from lower leagues, exposure.

“Talent identification and national team selection has been narrow for a long time due to limited platforms and re-sources whereby coaches could not travel to scout, but now things can change . . . there is a very big picture here.” Northern Region Soccer League board member Rumbidzai Muyambuki applauded ZIFA for including women in the national tournament.

She said Women’s football deserves national and global priority as one of the fastest-growing sports, which also offers a massive untapped commercial value.

“The fastest way to the World Cup for Zimbabwe is through women’s football, and these ladies deserve priority in all our deliberate efforts to develop football in the country,” she said.

“The sport is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with FIFA also launching their first-ever global strategy for women’s football and major tournaments driving viewership and new revenue streams.

“Prioritising the women’s game also benefits both the sport and society in many key ways . . . it is no longer just about participation in sport, but it’s now a highly lucrative business.”

Scottland Queens chairperson Michelle Williams is relishing the opportunities that the tournament could unlock for female footballers.

“This is a national tournament, and corporates will definitely wish to be involved, so it is an opportunity to market our game well and give potential sponsors an urge to consider investing in the game,” she said.

“The tournament will also be a good platform for exposure and for us to be able to improve our game begins when a lower league team plays an elite league side, you will have so much to learn,” she said.

Fixtures:

Scottland Queens v CAPS United Royals

Black Rhinos Queens v Waverley Queens

Kwekwe Queens v Shedza Queens

Highlanders Royals v Black Mambas Queens

Getty Queens v Las Palmas

Mutare City v Harare City Queens

Herentals Kwekwe Queens v Mpopoma

Mposa v Faith Drive Academy

Gwelo Rangers Royal Academy v Hardrock Queens

Queen Lozikeyi v FC Platinum Royals

Red Buffaloes v Correctional Queens