admin
Sisa Sihwa
“DO NOT play with boys!”
This is the warning she always got from her parents when she was young, but Elizabeth Moyo was a defiant little girl.
Her defiance gave rise to the birth of a star player of her generation when women’s soccer was introduced in Bulawayo in the 1980s.
Her name is considered among the yester year greats and Moyo now basks in the glory of her countless achievements. She is also considered one of the pioneers of women’s football.
Her interest in football was shown in the late primary school and early secondary stages of her life. She attended Matshayisikhova Primary School and Luveve High School.
Moyo revealed that she used to sneak out to go and play with boys.
“While I was growing up, I used to play with boys, by then we used to play plastic balls in the streets. At home they never liked the idea of playing with boys hence they did not support me. But I would sneak out and play with boys in New Luveve were I grew up,” she said.
Some of the boys she played football on the streets with were the likes of Thabo Banana, the son of the first Zimbabwe President, the late Canaan Banana.
After completing her studies, Moyo joined the Zimbabwe National Army in 1983 where she was actively engaged in many sporting disciplines. She played netball and before playing soccer she was a keen marathon runner.
“I was into sport full time in the army, after the parade we would train in the morning and in the afternoon we would go for soccer at Highlanders Royals,’’ Moyo said.
She was invited to go and train with Highlanders Royals by legendary coach Ali “Baba” Dube, who had spotted her playing at the then Brady Barracks (now Mzilikazi Barracks) and she joined the team in 1989.
‘‘Ali Baba was a very strict but good coach who was a no-nonsense guy who knew his job very well and was quick to dismiss undisciplined players,’’ she said.
Her other coaches at Highlanders Royals were the late Dumisani Sibanda, who was assisted by Dumisani Evans.
Moyo played as a striker at Highlanders Royals where she earned the nickname “Pele” — the name coined by Peter Ndlovu and the late Benjamin Nkonjera who played for the Highlanders junior teams at the time.
For someone to have the privilege of being nicknamed Pele for a woman, she must have shown a vast potential of talent and great skill.
“We used to train with boys’ teams, I would play with Peter Ndlovu and Benjamin Nkonjera before they were promoted to the senior men’s team. They gave me the nickname ‘Pele’ because I used to give them a torrid time on the pitch,’’ she said.
Her first match was a curtain raiser for the Highlanders senior team playing in the Chibuku Cup final, where they beat Dynamos Queens 2-1. Eveline Ndlovu and Samukeliso Mahlangu provided the goals for the Highlanders Royals side.
Moyo developed into a Highlanders Royals’ best dribbler and one of the longest serving players, who played for the club for over a decade following her promotion into the first team in the 1990s.
She became a dribbling wizard and a brilliant tackler who never let the ball pass her or let other footballers play in front of her.
During her career she won numerous accolades as Top Goal Scorer and Most Disciplined Player. In 1991 she was the crowned Most Consistent Player of the Year.
She was among the pioneer players for the Mighty Warriors where she played as a defender. She played together with the likes of Yesmore Mutero, Mahlangu and Rosemary Mugadza to mention a few.
Moyo’s most memorable match in national colours was a game against Namibia where they walloped the side 14-0 home and beat them 4-3 away.
“I remember we once played Namibia and beat them heavily at home but I played one of the toughest games of my career in Namibia where they gave us a torrid time,’’ she said.
She revealed that Nigeria during that time had a formidable side which was difficult team to beat.
“Nigeria was a difficult team to beat, those women always gave us problems each time we faced them,’’ Moyo said.
Later on in the Mighty Warriors squad Moyo also played alongside current national team coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo, Sikhangele Sibanda and Sitshengisiwe Moyo.
She retired in 2004 at the age of 38 just like South Africa’s celebrated woman footballer Desiree Ellis who is currently coaching Banyana Banyana.
Moyo is married to Christopher Mpofu, who is a retired member of the ZNA. The couple is blessed with two children and three grandchildren and they reside in Bulawayo’s Magwegwe North suburb.
She revealed that she usually offers her services as a medic during matches for a local woman’s team Inline Academy.
Moyo congratulated and commended the job done by former team mate “Kwinji 15” for the Mighty Warriors.
@J_sihwa
Online Reporter