Street Set soccer aims to improve women’s soccer – Lee Mangena
LEE Mangena says the idea of forming Street Set football club which plays in the women’s Southern Region Division One League was highly influenced by his desire to improve women’s football in Zimbabwe.
The Skies Metro head of News said his love for women’s soccer led him to form the club which is now competition with top teams in Zimbabwe and that he was helped mainly by teachers who provided him with raw talent.
“It all started in 2013 when I formed a ward team that competed in a tournament which was organised by the Bulawayo City Council and after a splendid display by the girls, I decided to maintain the team and help where I can. My love for women’s soccer couldn’t allow me to leave the girls since they had no sponsor or coach,’’ Mangena said.
He went on to say, “I was helped by Anny Matsokoto, a teacher from Montrose Girls High School who provided me with the finest talent that her school had and Varaidzo Mushonga the Manicaland-based referee who gave me assistance on how to manage my team and without these two I don’t think I was going to be able to achieve the goal.”
Street Set whose training base is Sizinda grounds is mainly made up of girls from Montrose, Ihlathi, Nkulumane, Mpopoma and their founder, Mangena said he was happy with the way the club has grown.
“I am very pleased with the growth that has been made by my club, our catchment area has improved since we now have players from Sizinda, Nkulumane, Nketa, Tshabalala and Mpopoma. Hopefully we will be able to attract players outside Bulawayo to form a strong club.”
Club Coach, Lucky Malema gave praise to Mangena for his illustrious work towards improving women’s football in Zimbabwe.
“I feel what Mangena is doing is a great job considering the limited resources that he has, he has football at heart and it is his desire to improve women’s football in Zimbabwe and hopefully one day he will be able to meet his set standards.”
Asked whether Mangena had direct influence on the club, Malema acknowledged efforts made by his boss towards Street Set and said a top two finish was their target this season.
“To be honest, he is very different from other club owners that I have worked with, he works very hard as he has been organising friendlies for us, we have been playing week in week out and our last game was against Ubuntu Queens whom we beat 3-1 and hopefully the girls will be fit and ready by the time the league starts since we have set the target of finishing in the top two which will give us a ticket of playing in the top flight league next season.”
Alpha Dube-Mabeza the club captain said the girls were doing well and were content with the conditions at the club.
“We are very happy as a club considering the efforts that have been made by the owner of the club Lee Mangena, the girls are training very hard ahead of the new season.
“It is our wish to wear the national team colours as we represent the Mighty Warriors but above all we seek to improve the standards of the women football in Zimbabwe, we are calling for sponsors to come in and sponsor local teams for the better of our nation”.
Street Set was formed in 2013 by Mangena, they are nicknamed the “Sporo girls”, they played in the Women’s Soccer League last year before facing economic hardships which hindered them from traveling to away games. This forced them to drop into the Southern Region Division One League where they will be playing this season.