RUTENDO CHIRUME
MASVINGO CITY-Masvingo Province’s only female soccer team in the ZIFA Eastern Region Soccer League Division One, Shine Shine Queens FC (SSQ FC) have clinched a lucrative deal for their youngest footballer.
The vastly talented midfielder, Pritty Mbwende (14) joined Manicaland based Faith Drive Queens FC in January this year.
The deal with Faith Drive Queens will see the dribbling wizard being awarded a scholarship to complete her secondary education at Nyamauru Government School in Mutare.
The scholarship comes with full fees and other academic support while her family will only cater for her school uniform.
SSQ FC coach Takaendesa Mavesere was upbeat about the deal and told The Midweek Watch that the girl’s commitment to the most beautiful game has seen her being noticed by several teams including Faith Drive who beat other teams from the region to her signature.
He added that Pritty comes from a humble background and the scholarship has come at the right time.
Meanwhile, Mavesere lamented the lack of support for the girl child and said SSQ are still struggling to get sponsorship as they prepare for another season in Division One following their relegation from the Super League.
“Our main aim is to identify and nurture talent with a vision to protect the girl child from social ills. We want to take these girls off the streets as we fight against substance and drug abuse as well as early child marriages.
“We have no sponsorship and what we can only do for now is to nurture the identified talent and help them achieve their dreams through looking for scholarships, academies and football clubs who are doing better than us,” he said.
This is not the first time that the Masvingo based team helped female soccer players in Masvingo City to achieve their potential as four years ago the team also helped six players to join another Mutare based club, Quincy Academy FC where they are advancing their football career.
Last year Pritty gonged the Youngest and most Promising Player Award of the season during the SSQ FC awards ceremony.
