Zimbabwe Olympic Committee hails ZIFA Women’s Football Strategy

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) has praised the newly launched ZIFA Women’s Football Strategy 2025–2028, describing it as a transformative and long-overdue blueprint that lays the foundation for the long-term growth and professionalisation of the women’s game.

Unveiled in Harare this week, the Strategy outlines a clear vision to expand participation, strengthen pathways, improve governance, build solid club structures, and elevate national team performance. It also places emphasis on safeguarding, welfare, coach education, and the creation of systems that ensure long-term sustainability.

ZOC Chief Executive Officer Marlene Gadzirayi has commended ZIFA for taking a decisive step towards repositioning women’s football as a powerful force in Zimbabwean sport. She reflected on the Mighty Warriors’ historic qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, describing it as a benchmark and a reminder of what Zimbabwean women can achieve with proper structures and support. “Women’s football has always held incredible potential, and the Mighty Warriors’ appearance at the Rio 2016 Olympics was a moment of national pride,” Gadzirayi said. “What we want now is not just to relive that moment, but to build a system that allows our girls and women to consistently compete at the pinnacle of the game. The ZIFA Women’s Football Strategy is a major step in that direction, and as ZOC, we stand ready to work closely with ZIFA to support the development of our female athletes.”

Gadzirayi noted that while talent has never been in question, Zimbabwe’s women’s football landscape has long suffered from fragmented structures, inconsistent competitions, and limited investment. She applauded the Strategy for recognising that sustainable success must begin at the bottom – in communities, schools, grassroots programmes, and strong club networks.

“Sustainable systems don’t start at the top; they grow from a solid base,” she added. “This Strategy acknowledges the need to strengthen youth pathways, build safe and empowering environments, invest in coaches, and ensure that every girl has an opportunity to develop. That is how we will produce a new generation of Olympians and international stars.”

ZIFA’s blueprint highlights five strategic pillars: growing participation, showcasing the image of women’s football, striving for excellence, building foundations, and bringing structures that professionalise and sustain the game. These pillars, Gadzirayi said, align closely with ZOC’s own commitment to athlete development, gender equality, and high-performance support.

“The journey to excellence requires partnership,” she said. “We welcome ZIFA’s openness to collaboration, and ZOC is committed to playing its part, whether through capacity-building, Olympic Solidarity programmes, or technical support for elite athlete pathways. Together, we can rebuild the Mighty Warriors into a competitive force on the continent and beyond.”

As Zimbabwe looks to revitalise women’s football, the launch of the Strategy has been widely welcomed across the sporting sector. With ZOC pledging its support, stakeholders agree that this marks the beginning of a renewed national effort to empower girls and women, restore competitiveness, and build a sustainable future for the women’s game.

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