The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
TEAMS in and around Mutare last weekend came together to form the Mutare Women Social Soccer League with the aim of empowering women through sports. A total of 11 teams are in the league.
The league’s vice-chairperson, Obert Makuwaza, said their league was aiming at eradicating any form of sexual and social ills in Mutare by 2020.
“We endeavour to empower the girl child of Mutare through sport. We have discovered that so many girls are facing abuse and we hope to change everything through sports. We just came together and agreed to kick start this project and we hope to get sponsorship,” he said.
The teams that make up the league include Nyamauru, Zarawa from Bezel Bridge, Aloe Queens, Clare, Nyazura, Mutare Girls’ High, Faith Drive, City Vellos, OKA from Chipembere, Heartlands and Yadah Queens.
The league will help teams in and around the city to remain in the game as the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League is not functioning well.
Sometimes in May, Zimbabwe Women Football boss, Elizabeth Langa, said that they would decentralise their leagues to cut on expenses, but nothing materialised.
There is activity in the Northern Region. The so-called parallel league has nine teams which are fulfilling their fixtures.
Makuwaza said they were working hard to have teams that would represent the province in the national league next year.
Meanwhile, Faith Drive Queens from Dangamvura were crowned winners of FIN Tournament held last weekend.
The one-day tournament which ran under the theme: ‘Women and girls empowering through sport’ was held over the weekend at Sakubva 2 High and Mutanda schools.
The league’s 10 teams participated and they were placed in Pool A and Pool B.
Pool A had Zarawa of Bezel Bridge, Clare, Aloe Queens, Nyamauru and Nyazura, while Pool B comprised of Mutare Girls’ High School, Sakubva 2, Faith Drive, City Vellos and newly formed Yadah Queens.
Zarawa and Nyamauru were the top two teams from Pool A, while Sakubva and Faith Drive topped Pool B.
Faith Drive managed to beat Zarawa 1-0, while Nyamauru beat Sakubva 1-0. Faith Drive and Nyamauru booked their places in the finals after winning in their group.
Faith Drive coach, Admire Mahachi was voted coach of the tournament, while Mighty Warriors star, Maud Mafuruse was voted the best player.
Speaking after the tournament, Makuwaza thanked all teams that travelled from outside Mutare to participate.
