By Onny Gangata
SHEASHAM football club through its parent company Sheasham Investments has completed the take over of Chipembere Queens which will see the company taking full responsibility of bankrolling the club.
The club has since been renamed to Sheasham Gweru Queens and is playing in the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League(ZWSL), the country’s elite women’s football league.
According to the agreement between the two parties seen by this publication,Sheasham will have full proprietorship of the club while Gweru City Council (GCC) will second two officials to be part of the club’s executive.
The mayor of the city will remain the team’s patron and the local authority has pledged to avail its health facilities for use by the team when need arises.
“The local authority will hand over and relinquish the franchise of Chipembere Queens to the club with immediate effect and upon signature of this memorandum of understanding,” reads part of the agreement signed on April 16.
“Chipembere Queens’name will be changed to Sheasham Gweru Queens with immediate effect and all relevant stakeholders will be advised accordingly.
The existing or current players of Chipembere Queens will be transferred to the club. The club is at a discretion to assess the players before awarding a contract to each player.”
Sheasham president Clever Mandaza said the decision to adopt the club was based on his organization’s love for sport and development and empowerment of the girl child.
“Sheasham companies and the city of Gweru have had a long standing relationship since 1993. Both institutions share passion for football considering it to be the noblest of all sports,” Mandaza said.
“The partnership between these two entities is premised on the shared love for sport… Football can play a role in making the girl child exemplary.”
Gweru mayor, Martin Chivhoko applauded Sheasham for taking over the club, saying the move should signal a change in fortunes for the team going forward.
“The transformation of Chipembere Queens to Sheasham Gweru Queens marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our football in the city. We look forward to success in the future under the patronage of Sheasham company,” he said.
Sheasham Gweru Queens currently sit 13th on the log standings having lost all the three matches they played so far.
