New Ngezi Platinum CEO relishing challenge
WHEN Amanda Nyanzero recently lifted the prestigious Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trophy with the Madamburo family, to her it was more than just a celebration.
Despite joining the Mhondoro based side towards the end of the 2023 PSL season, for Nyanzero, the title comes as a symbol of love and unity that the Ngezi Platinum Stars share with their community.
In fact, her tale dates way back when she made up her mind to apply for the chief executive post.
To her, landing the post would mean beyond just leading a football club.
Coming from a development field where she had worked for close to a decade, Nyanzero was attracted by Madamburo family’s emotional and financial connection with the Ngezi community.
What she saw was a rare relationship that had a huge impact in championing issues like social and financial inclusion and as well tackle Gender Based Violence challenges in the community.
“I have been in the development field for a longtime and what I saw with the Ngezi outfit is what any development champion would want to be associated with,” she said.
“I did not have much of a history with football, so everything to me was just beyond the game.”
Nyanzero is the third female CEO to take the reins at the Mhondoro Ngezi-based platinum miners who were also crowned this year’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions.
She comes after Nyasha Kadenge who took up the position in 2016 until last year when she was replaced by Yvonne Mapika-Manwa.
Mapika-Manwa is now the Zifa CEO, a position she assumed earlier in November.
Nyanzero, a Hallingbury Primary and St Johns’ Emerald Hill High schools’ product, holds a University of Zimbabwe degree in Development and Accountancy and a Master’s in Public Policy and Governance from the same institution.
She boasts of a wealth of both financial and administrative experience having served as an executive accountant at the Graca Machel Trust for seven years.
Later she moved into the development sector where she dealt with issues of inclusion in its different forms and fighting societal ills that hindered development.
“We were looking at social, physical and financial inclusion and it made me develop an attachment with the less privileged members of the society,” she said.
“This is how Ngezi captured my attention, from a distance, I loved the impact they have on their community.
“The developmental programs that they have are phenomenal and for a long time I told myself that these are the things that I wish to be associated with so when the ceo post was advertised I was quick to apply.”
Most development practitioners, added Nyanzero, are making frantic efforts to address issues of Gender Based Violence, climate change among other fundamental issues affecting communities.
She notes that Takesure Chiragwi led side has a huge impact to their community through most of their works.
The football club, she said, is a beacon of hope in Mhondoro, Ngezi.
Her good financial acumen which not only echoes the Club’s sustainable growth ambitions is important for sound administration for the club.
Her experience on inclusivity and empowerment also aligns with Ngezi Platinum’s vision of building a strong brand.
“The way the community attends football matches, how they circle around the team and cheer, you can see that it is a big deal to them and their community leaders.
“And winning the championship this year meant everything to them, the relationship is symbiotic and this makes a perfect home for anyone,” she said.
With her family based in Harare, the CEO has to travel to and from home during the weekends.
However, when the season is running, she sometimes has to go for a fortnight without seeing them.
While this would have ordinarily been a huge task for any mother and wife, Nyanzero makes it lightweight.
“My husband is supportive and it makes my life easy,” she said.
“In fact, when I sent in my application for this post, I did not think I would land the role although I have always admired the club from a distance.
“When the response came, I was not sure if I would go through with it but my husband motivated me and to this day, he makes everything easy for me.
“Part of me had some fear, you know stories of how the sporting/football field is unfriendly to women but he gave me the courage to try it out.”
Although she is still adjusting to the sporting field, Nyanzero said she feels at home in Ngezi.
The environment, she notes, is accommodative to everyone regardless of gender.
“Madamburo made me feel at home so easily, and having two female predecessors made the office more comfortable because if other women did it, then why can’t I?
“I have noted that Ngezi is a warm place to be, the family never makes you feel like you are a woman, the respect is phenomenal, everyone is equal here and this makes my job easy.
“They also have a rare, professional way of doing business and this is what everyone would want to be associated with.
“Despite the short time that I have been here, I have learnt a lot and going to the CAF champions league, I am fully aware of the huge task that we are faced with . . . we will do it,” she said.