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“I think Africa should just stay away from women football, look at what's happening at half time!”

This was the caption on the picture that went viral 13 years ago on social media.

 I was just starting out my career as a journalist and I was repelled by that caption.

After putting my investigative skills to use, I discovered that the picture which had gone viral and had been shared hundreds of times was of a team in Zimbabwe’s suburb of Westgate.

Fire Queens as the team was called, was formed by Crispen Gomo who had brought together his wife, sister and her friends and some girls and women at Chichera Plot where they lived.

Gomo was not elated by the demeaning caption either.

This year I tracked down Gomo and the Fire Queens.

His wife and the other breastfeeding mothers have hung their boots and it is the then breastfeeding babies that are playing!

“It’s amazing because the girls have grown now. Yolanda, Alice and Jane are now playing in the Young Women Soccer League that we recently formed.”

The then member of parliament for that constituency, Honourable Jessie Majome was not fazed with the caption then.

“What is wrong with women breastfeeding their babies at half time at a soccer match?” 

Honorable Majome is the one that took the picture of the women and she was very upset with the way it was captioned.

Yolanda who was being breasted more than 13 years ago is now playing for the same team

“That is a very patronizing attitude. It is even difficult for me to imagine that the person who captioned that picture is here in Zimbabwe or Africa. It shows lack of respect for Africans, lack of respect for women. In any life I think what these women are doing is socially remarkable and amazing.” Honorable Majome had said

“In a normal situation the players are supposed to get oranges and water during half time but for the Fire Queens it is a different story. Instead of being replenished they are feeding their babies.”

Honorable Majome had been sponsoring the team in 2010.

She provided them with uniforms and soccer balls among other things.

“Are we then saying breastfeeding women cannot play soccer? What is this attitude of looking down on breastfeeding? How dare that person say things about that to women? I am really upset.”

“The children have grown. We are happy that we have a very strong support system. We actually have a woman called Amai Mafigu. She is the one who used to play  with the children when their mothers were playing.”

Gomo’s wife Sheila and his sister were also part of the team.

“Some of the children were taken care of by their fathers when their mothers were playing soccer. To us, as long as the woman is fit and wants to play football they can come and join us.”

The tenacity of these women was also reflected by their husbands.

They formed their own soccer club called Mega FC.

“We had the husbands, brothers and uncles supporting the Fire Queens and after the match the wives, sisters and aunts were supporting Mega FC.”

The vibrant team is number fire on the log and are hoping to finish well so they can play in the Division 1.

The community of Chichera is the complete opposite of where it is set.

Jane one of the babies that was also being breasted is all grown up and playing for the team

Although it is in the leafy suburb of Westgate, they are living in poverty.

“They cannot afford to pay rent and the shortage of accommodation has driven them to that place. It used to be a place for dog kennels some time ago. They took advantage of it and converted it to shelter their places. 

The community demystifies the gender attitude that sport is for men.

They have created a lifestyle that from the children, everyone is playing soccer.

The team also needs soccer pitch maintenance costs, soccer balls, football boots, soccer jerseys, tracksuits and transport for their away games. To assist  call/WhatsApp Crispen Gomo +263775406413