‘Football needs women to be role models’

Zimpapers Sports Hub

In a bold move to break the male-dominated mould in Zimbabwean football, Kudzai Kadzombe, founder and director of the Dutch Academy, is contesting for a position on the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board.

Kadzombe, one of four female candidates vying for a spot on the board, brings an impressive 12-year track record in football administration.

Her extensive experience is expected to be a major drawcard in her bid to join the board ahead of the ZIFA executive.

The Dutch Academy founder is set to officially launch her manifesto before Friday, outlining her vision for Zimbabwean football.

Kadzombe’s motivation for seeking a board position is rooted in her desire to provide female role models in the sport.

“I’m driven by the need to fill the gap in terms of female representation in Zimbabwean football,” Kadzombe explained.

“Growing up, I was inspired by attending Warriors matches in the 90s. Now, I believe it’s my time to make a meaningful impact through policy formulation and football development.”

“There is a huge gap when it comes to the girl child; sometimes they are treated as non-existent.

“So I need to push that each team in the PSL, in any area zones in all the districts and the regions, have a women’s team that participates in a league just like men do.

Kadzombe’s experience working with local authorities is also expected to be an asset in her bid for the board.

“As someone who has worked closely with local authorities, I understand the importance of collaboration between stakeholders,” she noted.

“Local authorities own infrastructure and work hand-in-hand with the government, making them critical partners in football development.

“And I’m glad that the government has also come in with a directive that local authorities should reserve seven per-cent of their budget for football infrastructure.

Kadzombe’s candidacy has already made a significant impact, inspiring hope for a more inclusive and representative future for Zimbabwean football.

Through her academy, she sacrificed resources to groom players without commercialising it.

They nurtured top talents like Delic Murimba, Donald Mudadi, Brian Mukucha, Macton Mahodobi, Brian Kadamanja, and Never Rauzhi, among many others dotted across the country’s top-tier teams.

“I’ve groomed many players in the Premier League, and the list is big. My Academy does not focus on charging players. “We identify a young player and we groom them using our coaches. We bear all the costs for grooming this child, whether it’s transport, education, or housing.

“We cover all the costs, hoping that in the future, we’ll be able to loan a player to any team. From that, we get our percentage of recouping our funds.

“So over the years of our existence, we have accommodated many children who could not afford to pay,” she said.