ZWSL set to start in May

assembly endorsed a resolution to have the pilot project get underway.
Women’s councillors converged at the Zifa Village on Saturday for a marathon indaba that spilled late into the night.
The Women then emerged from that meeting with the news that the assembly had agreed to give birth to a national league.
In previous years women’s football has been played on a regional basis with the Northern and Southern regions the only active participants.
But the coming in of a new executive chaired by Mavis Gumbo, which is long on ambition, has resulted in final touches being put to set up a women’s top-flight that would run along similar lines to the Premier Soccer League.
The new league is expected to start with 12 teams with each of the Zifa affiliate regions providing four teams.
Clubs are expected to pay affiliation fees of US$350 and failure to register will see the teams being booted out.
Gumbo told the councillors that her executive was on the verge of clinching a sponsorship deal with an as yet unnamed company.
“We have covered a lot of ground with the prospective sponsor and once we finalise we will unveil the sponsors and launch the league.
“We are looking at a sponsorship package that would help clubs with transport costs so that we cushion them,” said Gumbo.
While the councillors embraced the national league, the house was divided on which format to use in inviting clubs.
The board had proposed that the Northern Region, which was the most active in the past seasons when other regions were struggling, should provide six teams with the Southern Region contributing five teams. Eastern Region would then contribute one team while the Central regions which is still in its infancy would have to wait a little longer before they can join the national game.
Some councilors, however, kept clamouring for an equal distribution of slots.
But with the councillors adamant that each region should nominate four teams, it now remains to be seen whether those teams will be in place on time and will have the funding to sustain their maiden dance with a national league.
Gumbo’s board would have to run the inaugural league until a committee to administer the division has been put in place.
Cyclone Queens, Black Rhinos Queens, Mufakose Queens and Aces Academy will be coming in from the Northern region.
Bulawayo giants New Orleans which nurtured players like Mighty Warriors coach Rose Mugadza, Inline Academy, North Rovers and Chipembere Queens will come in from the Southern Region.
Eastern Region have nominated Masvingo Queens, Great Zimbabwe Queens, Macheke Queens and Faith Drive Queens.
Saturday’s indaba also adopted a draft constitution, which will now be registered with the mother body. The councillors also called for a close working relationship with National Association of Secondary Schools Heads, National Association of Primary Schools Heads in developing the sport at grassroots level.