Masvingo Leads the Way as ZIFA Women’s Football Campaign Reaches Participation Milestone

Masvingo became the first province in Zimbabwe to surpass the target of 400 participants as the ZIFA Women’s Football Campaign continued its nationwide drive to introduce young girls to football through a fun, safe and inclusive environment.

The campaign, which is the first programme to be rolled out under the ZIFA Women’s Football Strategy 2025–2028, is anchored on the strategic pillar of Growing Participation and seeks to create opportunities for more girls to access and enjoy the game from an early age.

Held in Masvingo, the event brought together more than 400 Under-13 girls from Chikatu Primary School, Dikwindi Primary School and St Don Bosco Primary School. Through football-based activities, games and skills sessions, participants were introduced to the sport in an environment designed to encourage confidence, teamwork, friendship and enjoyment.

The event was attended by several key stakeholders, including Ministry of Education PE & Arts Provincial Inspector Mr Matavikwa, Ministry of Education PE & Arts Inspector Ms Rafomoyo, NAPH Provincial Chairperson Ms Nyoni, ZIFA Eastern Region Women’s Football League Chairperson Rosemary Muzvidziwa, ZIFA Masvingo Province Chairperson Nabioth Magwizi and ZIFA Masvingo Province Administrator Cleopatra Matinhure.

Speaking after the event, ZIFA Women’s Football Lead Ivy Mukahanana congratulated Masvingo for becoming the first province to achieve the campaign’s participation target.

“We are delighted by the response we received in Masvingo. Reaching and surpassing the target of 400 girls is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the growing interest in football among young girls. This campaign is about creating opportunities, breaking barriers and ensuring that every girl who wants to play football has a pathway into the game,” said Mukahanana.

She added that the campaign represents a critical first step in the implementation of the Women’s Football Strategy.

“Our objective is to grow the participation base of women’s football across Zimbabwe. By introducing girls to football at a young age, we are not only developing future players but also nurturing confidence, leadership and lifelong involvement in the sport. We are grateful to the schools, parents, teachers and stakeholders who continue to support this vision.”

The Women’s Football Campaign is designed to complement existing grassroots development initiatives by creating more entry points for girls into football while strengthening relationships between schools, communities and football structures.

As the campaign moves to other provinces, ZIFA remains committed to expanding opportunities for girls to participate in football and ensuring that the game becomes more accessible to young players across the country.

The success of the Masvingo event highlights the growing momentum behind women’s football development in Zimbabwe and reinforces ZIFA’s commitment to building a sustainable pathway for future generations of female footballers.

With participation levels continuing to rise, the Women’s Football Campaign is already making a significant contribution towards the long-term vision of increasing the number of girls playing football and strengthening the foundations of the women’s game nationwide.

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