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Fungai Muderere
After having watched a rare breed of a midfielder Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda shine in Mighty Warriors colours courtesy of her ball artistry and visionary play, one would argue that she belongs in a group of local people whom women’s football taught teamwork, self-reliance, resilience and confidence.
“There is a stigma attached to women’s football but I am just who I am. I had great times as a player and I really enjoyed it. I belong to a group of people who were pioneers of Zimbabwean women’s football and I’m happy to say that despite the stereotypes we endured, my family gave me support. As such, it was not difficult for me to pursue football,” she said.
Sibanda is a flower that has gone on to blossom in the local football circles and abroad in the process successfully questioning some of the societal gender stereotypes.
A holder of the highest Caf A coaching certificate, Germany Certificate, a couple of Elite Strengthening and Conditioning Certificates, who is in the process of fully completing her Caf Instructors badges, Kwinji 15 is undoubtedly a woman who dared.
In 2015, she made history by becoming the first female coach to work in a competitive men’s football league in Zimbabwe when she assumed the role of assistant coach at the now defunct Tsholotsho FC.
She was Lizwe Sweswe’s lieutenant.
“After exhibiting leadership qualities on and off the field I was advised to venture into coaching by many people chief among them being Brian Moyo my former coach at New Orleans.
It has been a fascinating experience that has also seen me venture into men’s football as a coach. I first did it in 2015 when I became an assistant coach to Lizwe Sweswe at Tsholotsho FC.
“The team had very respectful and dedicated players who saw a coach in me, not a woman. The players never undermined me because of being a female coach and I really liked that because this is the same respect that I get with girls that I usually work with in the senior national team,” said the dreadlocked gaffer who recently joined FC Platinum’s women’s team, Platinum Royals as head coach.
What made Sibanda’s accomplishment striking is that while women have sat on the technical benches of premiership outfits before, they were not part of the coaching staff.
Previously, women that have been seen on the technical bench were either physiotherapists or medics. The “cultural fact” and the rare sight of a woman coaching men made Sibanda’s role quite phenomenal.
Interestingly, last season, the Mighty Warriors head coach, was assistant coach to Sweswe at Southern Region Division One side Talen Vision where they finished as the third best side behind eventual winners Hwange and first runners-up ZPC Hwange.
“Coaching is a career path that I chose so I will never avoid being associated with men’s football. Last season, I was at Talen Vision and it all needed courage. Yes, some football followers still associate women with bad luck but that hasn’t let me down. I have remained strong,” said the courageous mother of one.
March is women’s month, and we revisit the pledge we made as a nation to use sport, and football in particular to empower the girl child through the game, and to use the same to elevate the women in positions of responsibility.
Such positive capacity building initiatives certainly lead to due rewards in terms of sound administration and management as has been proven that if “you empower a woman you empower the whole village”.
It is pleasing to note that at a time numerous calls have been made on leaders and the powerful to uphold girls’ fundamental rights to participate in decision-making, a number of local sporting institutions and other stakeholders from across the sports ecosystem, have unapologetically become part of a powerful coalition to make gender equality a living reality in and through sport.
Sibanda has undoubtedly through sport defied gender stereotypes and social norms, became an inspiring role model, and epitomised men and women as equals.
And if Kwinji 15 can do it, why can’t more women follow suit?
mbulelo smpofu
shloboe boe
