o comes against unconfirmed reports that the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is holding on to a US$25,000 grant from FIFA meant for the development of local women’s soccer.
Eucebia Nleya-Maseko, the secretary general of the national women’s soccer league, yesterday confirmed that their league has failed to take off owing to lack of sponsorship.
Nleya-Maseko said, currently, their division one regional and provincial division two leagues are running without sponsors.
“We had planned to set up a women’s national premier soccer league at the beginning of this year but the league failed to take-off due to lack sponsorship from the corporate world,” said Nleya-Maseko.
According to Nleya-Maseko, “some teams in these leagues are currently failing to fulfil their fixtures due to lack of transport funds.”
The regional division one league comprises of the northern, southern and eastern region while the provincial division two league comprises of all the country’s provinces.
On the FIFA grant meant for the development of women’s soccer, it is understood that the ZIFA executive told the women’s leagues to put structures first and to submit their budget for approval before the release of the grant.
Contacted for comment, ZIFA chairman, Wellington Nyatanga refused to comment saying he is out of the office.
“Who told you that, I am not in the office right now, I am on the farm. You can talk to the CEO,” Nyatanga said.
He later referred all questions to the chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze, who was however not reachable at the time of going to press. – CAJ News
18.5.2006
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Women’s league fails to kick off
BULAWAYO - The proposed women's soccer premier league has failed to kick-off due to lack of sponsorship. The revelations come at a time when the men's premiership has also failed to attract sponsors as companies are in financial dire straits due to the economic decline in the country.
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