AS Zambia celebrates her 50 years of independence today, it is important to end discrimination of women in sports.
The last 50 years has seen sports develop in Zambia with measurable achievements for everyone to appreciate although we could do more than we have if policy makers, managers and administrators spoke the same language.
Soccer has been predominant in the last 50 years culminating in the Chipolopolo winning the elusive Africa Cup title in 2012 in Libreville, Gabon while our Women Under-17 team qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals and Shepolopolo reached the Africa Women Championship (AWC).
Sadly, the men football teams seem to be appreciated well in terms of monetary gain when they qualify for continental championships while our women teams have received little attention.
The Shepolopolo made history by qualifying for the continental championship but the players got no payment for that achievement and ended up receiving K100 after returning from Namibia where they were promised $80 per day allowances.
It seems the players may not get any money following some revelations by FAZ that it is broke and cannot pay and is hoping for Government to come in to help offset the bill.
But that again was dealt another blow as Government does not take care of women teams apart from the Chipolopolo – men’s senior team.
So what is the point of having a women team?
You have players who missed school in preparation for the AWC for three to four months while others have families but nothing to show for it for representing the country.
I feel it is high time these women lobby groups came out in the open and join National Organisation for Women in Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (NOWSPAR) in condemning what is happening to the Shepolopolo.
NOWSPAR executive director Matilda Mwaba has expressed disappointment that the girls patriotism is being brought into question when all they have done is to serve the country diligently and are merely demanding what is due unto them.
“Our understanding of patriotism is love and commitment to one’s country. As you are fully aware, the women team is one of the most underfunded sports team in the country, among other conditions, they have preserved and are doing relatively well.
Their engagement in football is for the love of the game, the desire to serve their country and to be the best athletes they can be. All these are indicators of patriotism,” she said.
The players have really been de-motivated and one cannot blame for wanting shun playing for the team in future especially that they were subjected a poor meal of kapenta and beans while in camp.
I wonder if the Chipolopolo can eat patriotism at the expense of the huge allowances they get. The Shepolopolo put the country first but must be rewarded for qualifying and taking part in the competition.
Asking them to put the country first ahead of money is something too much to ask looking at what they have done.
Hope women holding influential positions in these big companies can come forth and see how best these talented players can be assisted unlike making them going home for independence celebrations with a mere K100.
We do not need to wait until we clock another 50 years to achieve equity of women participation in sports especially football but we should be able to point to these achievements the time before clocking 100 years.
Wishing you all a happy Independence Day, celebrate responsibly and enjoy the match between Zambia and Ivory Coast tomorrow.
Comments: eliaschipepo@gmail.com