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believe the time is now for more representation in the Zifa Board.
A number of women have made a bid for positions in the Zifa Board to come into office after the 25 January elections.
Mukumbuta Ndlovu, a former Highlanders Royals and now Lobengula Queens team manager says women must now fight stereotypes.
“It’s high time we women challenge traditional gender stereotypes, let’s stand up and be counted in these leadership positions. The time has come to break the glass ceiling, women make great leaders, they have an innate ability to dream big, challenge assumptions and inspire,” said Ndlovu.
She said the football landscape is too big for men to want it to themselves.
“The cake is big enough for everyone to share, for our football to develop. We need a balance, women understand the Girl Child much better than men.
“Girls’ soccer in our country has not grown as much. But we see men’s football is getting better, they have qualified for Afcon, they have more players playing outside the country,” said Ndlovu.
She said with more women in the Zifa board, there is bound to be some wholesome movements in the right direction.
“So now is the time for women to get into those positions. They are now ready to make big football decisions and policies for the betterment of our football. Women bring different perspectives,” Ndlovu said.
Women have been guaranteed the vice- president’s post as one has been created for them.
Hopes are high that the board member positions numbering six could see some women voted into office.
If they do not make the grade, in the elections, the women’s soccer boss and the vice president will be the only two ladies in the 11-member board to come into office come 25 January.
The women’s soccer president and her deputy are most likely to come from Harare and hopes are high that the Assembly members may consider representation of other regions to give the sport a national outlook.
Sabelo Maphosa and Sibekiwe Ndlovu as the two out of Harare candidates could find themselves enjoying the glare of attention if there is a deliberate move to have more women and also national representation.
Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo, a Mighty Warriors legend said there was a need for women to tap the experience and exposure of men.
“As much as we want women, we want to have posts at Zifa, we need men also to guide us, the more women we have I guess, our women’s football will improve,” said the legend.
Another women’s football prodigy, Gugu Chibanda said as women, they have been sidelined for a while.
“It’s high time women got into those positions. They have been long sidelined and the Girl Child is suffering,” said Chibanda adding that with more women involved in the board room at Zifa, good decisions would be made for women’s soccer.
She said more women in action means empowerment and the creation of more role models among females. This would see more women break the barriers created by centuries-long stereotyping where women had to play second fiddle to men.
Chibanda said this would be a way towards gender equality as preached by SADC, which wants 50-50 representation in everything about the people of the region.
Catherine Navada another active player in women’s sport called for more women to be involved.