The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube
IMAGINE a Monday evening weekly football club review meeting chaired by a woman who asks the entire executive and technical team to pack.
Ntabazinduna-born and bred Thandiwe Tshili believes she will make a mark in football where her team Bhekene Celtics have just been promoted to the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two League.
Founded on 12 August last year as a social club, Celtics joined the Zifa structures early this year winning promotion on first attempt.
“We had the money to play Division Two football but opted for Division Three. Our coach Lizwe Hlabangana said we should not take short cuts, football is a game where one needs to go through the structures.
“I find it satisfying that we listened to him and went to Division Three. It’s fulfilling that we proved our worth by winning promotion with just two losses and as many draws and 18 wins. Division Two here we come,” said Tshili.
She acknowledged that she was pushed by a friend Kevin Marley Ngwenya who is in the UK to start a football club.
“Kevin said a football club would benefit more people, help build social cohesion and give youths a chance to try out another route for a living as professional footballers in the future,” she said.
Tshili said her elder sister had in mind a crèche instead of football.
“Of the two options I opted for football because it is a unifier. When you visit our games at home you see a mixture of old and new among the fans. People find football a good pastime and unifier,” said Tshili.
Her dream, she said, was to see the club eventually play in the Premiership.
“I have ambitions too. Now that we are in Division Two beginning next year, we have to go all the way to the top. It won’t be a stroll on the park as the higher you go in football the more the expenditure and expectation. Other corporate players will be expected to come on board and assist us. We need a sponsor for the club or a partner who can assist me with running expenses.
“We need to build toilets and dressing rooms for the home team, visitors and referees. Our players camp ahead of games so we need funding for all this including our own transport to make life easier for the club,” said the club president who is the sole sponsor of the Manxeleni-based club.
Football ownership has been a male dominated field with most women coming in as administrators. Few women in the country have owned clubs.
Rita Musekiwa, a former Zifa administrator, Motor Action’s Liz Rosen, Miriam Sibanda former co-owner of Twalumba FC and former Zifa chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya are some of the few women to play an active part in the game.
A majority have held secretarial and other menial roles at clubs, especially those owned by individuals.
Chido Chizondo the FC Platinum spokesperson is the other woman still left standing in a position where a woman is visible.
The rest are backroom staff as man dominate the scene but Tshili has chosen to break with tradition and be in charge with men under her control.
“My dream is to some day look back and say it was not an easy journey getting to the top. We are a club that consults widely and we are happy with the push we are getting from notables like Brian Moyo, Mkhuphali Masuku, Kevin Marley and clubs like Filabusi United,” said Tshili.
At the club’s celebration party held last Saturday the club honoured its most outstanding players with Keegan Muvhiringi scooping the club Player of the Year gong, Mpumelelo Ndlovu plucked from social soccer was the most outstanding of the three club goalkeepers, Mbongeni Dalubuhle Moyo is the club’s most promising player with Antonie Musawenkosi Kaunda the Most Disciplined.
Tinotenda Chitete with 22 goals to his credit went away the marksman’s award with three players winning the club president’s Award these being Luciano Moyo, Prosper Munandi, Mehluli Ncube and Nkosi Dlamini.
Tshili said it was important to honour the players with an end of season party to celebrate their success.
“Today as we stand here, we have written our own piece of history and put Ntabazinduna on the map with this achievement. Our wish is to bring more success to our community and this will take a lot of hard work, discipline and a higher level of commitment by all associated with the club,” said Tshili.
At the club’s party, veteran administrator Ndumiso Gumede was the guest of honour and applauded Tshili for her efforts.
