MASVINGO – Rufaro Starlets Academy, a rising force in women’s soccer, revealed their official kit for the 2026 season on Wednesday, marking a major boost for women’s football in the region. The unveiling was powered by former Rufaro High School student and entrepreneur Tinashe Blessing Hwandih, founder of Sports Emporium, who donated a full kit set to the team.
The kit includes a striking black home jersey, a gold away jersey, a white alternate kit, and warm-up sets, designed to elevate the team’s presence on and off the field. Hwandih, just 23 years old, positioned his company as a key pioneer in female sports brand support by pledging ongoing sponsorship.
“This gesture is to empower women’s football,”
Hwandih told Masvingo Mirror.
“This will not be the last time we will continue to sponsor the academy.”
The unveiling comes as the Rufaro Starlets celebrate their meteoric rise since their debut season last year, earning promotion into the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League (ZWPSL) after finishing with 12 wins out of 15 matches in the Eastern Region Division One.
Also stepping up is local company Gutu Drilling, which pledged to provide water supplies for the team throughout the league, underscoring the growing community investment in women’s soccer.
Team manager Kundai Maromo highlighted the transformative impact of the sponsorship. “Your support goes beyond the logo on our shirts. It gives our girls boots on their feet, proper equipment to train, and most importantly, the belief that someone believes in their dream through such sponsorship,” Maromo said.
The Starlets will host their opening game next Saturday at Mucheke Stadium against Mpopoma. Their second league match will be an away fixture against Rise of Hope in Gweru, signaling a challenging start to their first ZWPSL season.
Despite this momentum, the academy continues to seek additional sponsors to bolster their operations. Representing club chairperson Jaison Shumbanhete at the kit launch, treasurer Brian Zvaita urged community and business stakeholders to assist, especially with transport and logistics.
“We are inviting sponsorship from various stakeholders who are willing to help us, especially with transport and logistics,”
Zvaita stated, emphasizing critical resource needs beyond equipment.
The Starlets’ rise and community support echo a broader trend of growing attention to women’s sports globally. Their partnership with a young entrepreneur and a local drilling company showcases innovative grassroots support models, a potential blueprint for women’s soccer development worldwide—including here in the United States and North Carolina, where women’s soccer is gaining record audiences and investment.
As the 2026 season kickoff approaches, Rufaro Starlets Academy is poised not only to compete but to cement themselves as an uplifting force for female athletes and community engagement across the region.
