Support women soccer: Mavis Gumbo


Lazarus Sauti

Mavis Gumbo, Chairperson of Zimbabwe Women Football, says women soccer is neglected and this is affecting the development of women football in the country.

She also said a lot of things are hindering the development of women soccer in Zimbabwe.

“Lack of sponsorship from grassroots levels for the women’s game is affecting the development of women soccer in the country,” Gumbo said.

She added, “We are facing the challenge of training kits whereas it is not the same case with boys’ soccer.”

Gumbo bemoans lack of coverage of women’s football in the mainstream media and she appealed to the media fraternity for more coverage of women’s soccer.

“There is lack of coverage of women soccer and we are appealing to the media to cover women’s soccer as much as possible in an equal footing with the men’s football,” she said.

Gumbo also said the media should not discriminate against women footballers. Instead, it should inform and educate people that the girl child can make a living out of soccer just like her male counterpart.

She said, “The media, since it is the conduit for ideas should play its role both in supporting women soccer and in eradicating gender discrimination. It should not reinforce but dispel gender discrepancies that are still hindering the growth of women soccer in the country.”

The Zimbabwe Women Football boss believes that prejudices are working against women footballers.

“Prejudices are working against women footballers. In this country, it seems as if women soccer teams have a yardstick of measure in focusing and targeting mostly girls in the urban areas - towns and cities.”

To change this, Gumbo said: “We are working hand in hand with schools and communities since they are integral in the development of women soccer the world over. Also, we are making frantic efforts to ensure that schools and societies are fully supporting girls with soccer talent.”

Gumbo, who said junior football is her priority, urged the government to encourage young girls to engage in sports seriously as an avenue to tackle the high unemployment rate that is being experienced in the country.

She also said, “Apart from the potentially immense financial benefits, sports participation can help the girl child to develop social skills that will benefit them throughout their entire lives; and to learn to interact not only with her counterparts but also with older individuals such as family members, coaches and sports officials.”

To show her seriousness about the success of junior football, the national U15 team was in camp from the 8th to the 13th of December ahead of the African Youth Championships to be held in Gaborone, Botswana in May 2014.

Gumbo encouraged the government, through the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture, to invest heavily towards the success of women soccer.

“The government should not treat women soccer as mere pastime but it should follow latest trends of fully supporting it,” she remarked, adding, “It is the mandate of the government to support women soccer and use it as an avenue to empower the girl child.”

This means the government needs to do more by way of investing time, money, energy and ideas in spreading and growing women soccer in the country.

Despite challenges being faced by women football in the country, Gumbo thanked corporates such as Marange Diamonds for their role in supporting women soccer.

“Corporates are helping in improving women’s soccer. For example, Marange Diamonds sponsored the women’s premier league and the Mighty Warriors’ foreign trips. I want to thank these corporates for their support,” she said.

Gumbo also urged Zimbabwe Football Association to make it as a requirement that every club playing in the semi-professional as well as professional leagues should have a division of women football.

She said women teams should curtain raise for Premier Soccer League matches and they should also participate in more cup tournaments.

The Women Soccer chief said the government and stakeholders in the sporting industry should be committed to ensuring that all communities and societies provide sports opportunities for women and girls across the country to help inspire the girl child.

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