SPORTS REPORTER
ZVISHAVANE – Mighty Warriors assistant coach, Yohane Chikaola has come out guns blazing saying women’s football in Zimbabwe is not vibrant and it is a major contributing factor to their loss against Zambia.
He said this during a post-match interview in South Africa after the Mighty Warriors’ 1-0 loss to Zambia in the semi-finals of the COSAFA Women’s Championship currently underway in South Africa.
Chikaola was in the dugout after head coach, Shadreck Mlaudzi was not allowed to sit on the bench following sexual harassment allegations that were levelled against him.
Asked what could have gone wrong, Chikaola had this to say; “The team was tired and we lost physically. The women’s league in the country is not vibrant and Zimbabwe has been on a FIFA ban, it is in tournaments like these as well as Women African Cup of Nations that help us identify our strength and weaknesses, something the local league cannot offer “, he said.
Generally, Zimbabwean football apart from women’s soccer, lacks publicity, it was during the days of SuperSport operations in the country that Zimbabwe football attracted foreigners to ply their trade in the country.
However, when the contract was terminated, ZBC tried to cover the games, but failed dismally until the introduction of ZTN Prime came on board.
Although ZTN is on DSTV it is not broadcasting football nationally as compared to what SuperSport was doing.
The women’s league has 14 teams that are not even getting any coverage in both community and national newspapers for reasons best known to the administrators.
