Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
CALLS are mounting for the formation of a Bulawayo women’s football provincial league, as it’s becoming clear that most teams were financially and technically not ready for the more competitive and demanding regional league.
A total of 12 teams compete in the Southern Region Women’s Soccer League that stretches up to Hwange, but high scoring figures in some games have given rise to calls for teams to be split as in the past.
Teams like Inline Academy, New Orleans, Hearts of Oak and Hwange Ladies have been dominant, ripping apart their opponents, with Inline Academy recently scoring 27 goals past Sobukhazi without reply.
“It’s no use recording high scoring margins; what’s needed is competition, but at the moment five teams seem ready for the region with a potential of two more joining them. As long as there is competition, it’s better. It’s no use having 12 teams where half of them are clear strugglers and have limited resources to travel to places like Hwange,” said one club official.
Teams such as Highlanders Royals, Sobukhazi, Cowdray Park and Magwegwe have been struggling and some have failed to score in the six games played to date.
Efforts to contact provincial chairperson Thembelani Dhliwayo and his deputy Patricia Chitura were unsuccessful yesterday as their mobiles rang unanswered.
Meanwhile, Inline Academy maintained their grip at the top of the league table with a 3-0 thumping of Street Set, while Bosso continued with their losing streak, falling 0-8 to Hearts of Oak.
Inline Academy have now opened a four-point gap at the top of the league table, with 18 points followed by Hearts of Oak on 14.
New Orleans, who beat Cowdray Park 8-0, are third on 12 points.