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Grace Chingoma

Senior Sports Reporter

IN a bid to promote junior talent, the Zimbabwe Women’s Super League football side Correctional Queens have partnered some local secondary schools to serve as part of their feeder system.

The club is investing in junior structures to guarantee their future.

Some of their stars, the likes of Marjoury Nyaumwe, Erina Jeke, Chido Dzingirai and Samukelisiwe Zulu are reaching the twilight zone and the club is investing in future talent.

This was revealed last Friday during a kit presentation by Red Sphere Finance, a subsidiary of Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe Holdings at Harare Central Prisons offices.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services have a relationship with Red Sphere Finance Managing Director, Desmund Ali, that began last year in honour of the club’s late president Tendai Chaponda.

And ahead of the start of the Zimbabwe Women’s Super League next month, the club received a timely boost of kits and tracksuits.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Commissioner General, Moses Chihobvu, in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Commissioner General, Shepherd Mpofu, said the club, which finished fourth last season, is making strides to promote more talent.

‘’The team has recently partnered Chikurubi Maximum Secondary and Support Unit High as developmental schools for the club.

“Sport offers the opportunity for interaction amongst the participants and the surrounding community. I am glad to note that Correctional Queens FC had loaned one of their goalkeepers’ coach to ZRP Black Mambas Football Club. This is highly praiseworthy as it does not only put the players on the map but the ZPCS as well,’’ said Chihobvu. The Commisioner General thanked CBZ Red Sphere for the donation.

“The Commissioner  General Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) we remain indebted for such a priceless donation which will certainly go a long way in boosting morale to the recipients as well as enhance their performance.

“Players who are fully supported or kitted will definitely do wonders on the pitch in terms of their performance.  Consequently, as ZPCS, we remain thankful and our doors remain open to all willing stakeholders who are keen to join hands with us in ensuring that our Queens’ necessities are catered for.

“We are really humbled that CBZ Red Sphere Finance took heed of such call thus our gathering here today to witness the donation of a full kit for the players; tracksuits for both the technical team and players,” said Chihobvu.

The Commisioner General pledged more support to female prisoners.

“Sport is equally important in one’s life specifically to officers as it keeps us physically fit as well as with all encompassing mental stability. As a department, we are proud and quite convinced that Correctional Queens FC shall remain one of the top-flight teams in the football fraternity and as management we shall continue to equip and support the female officers especially those with the passion for sport.

“We are all aware that our women’s soccer team has continued to do well in the Premier League where they finished on fourth position last season and these achievements are attributed to such support as what CBZ has just done today which continue to give the team the enthusiasm and will power to do even much better,” said Chihobvu.

The Commisioner General also acknowledged the club chairperson Mavis Gumbo for transforming the club.

“It is also worth noting that chairperson Ms Mavis Gumbo who took over the reigns in 2020 has managed to maintain the legacy, and with this alliance she has managed to transform Correctional Queens Football Club into one of the best administered teams in the League that earned itself the name Team of Choice,” he said.

Gumbo hailed the partnership with CBZ.

“Football brings together like-minded people and our marriage with CBZ’s Red Sphere Finance is testimony to that; CBZ is an all-weather friend of Zimbabwean football for a long time and at one stage they were the anchor sponsors for the FA Cup in Zimbabwe early 2000. Red Sphere Finance have seen it fit to rekindle the romance between CBZ and football by coming up with a timely donation of sports equipment for the club.

‘’The playing kits and tracksuits by Red Sphere Finance could not have come at any other opportune time than this, a time when the Club was looking for equipment ahead of the league programme,” said Gumbo.

The veteran adminstrator said Correctional Queens will continue to forge strategic relationships.

“The club is destined for great things and as such we will forge strategic business relationships with serious entities who see value in collaborating with us. We want to make a lasting football statement in Zimbabwean football by building strategic alliances which help our team to excel on the football pitch. We shall ensure that such faith and confidence in the Correctional Queens FC brand by Red Sphere Finance are not squandered.

“As the league action beckons, we look forward to acquit ourselves professionally and be the team to beat. In the same regard, the club recently partnered two high schools in our nearby hood – Chikurubi Maximum High School and Support Unit High School – as our development breeding ground. The club is also planning to engage Mabvuku High School and Oriel Girls High School,” said Gumbo.

Red Sphere Finance are seeking to break barriers in sport by giving equal opportunities to women’s football. Managing Director Ali said investing in juniors is good move for the club.

“It is our hope that our donation which we also did last year will improve their fortunes. We really want to see them improve from their previous position. We are happy that they are now doing juniors and we think it’s important to invest in juniors but they must be patient results don’t come overnight,” said Ali.