In the traditionally male-dominated world of football, Sinenjabulo Zungu brings something special to the table. We chatted to the CEO of the AmaZulu Football Club about her journey, the obstacles she has overcome, and her aspirations for the club and brand she so passionately leads.
Born and raised in Durban, Sinenjabulo is a mom, leader and people-person with big dreams. With an education and background in sales and marketing – she completed a business degree at the University of Cape Town and an MBA at the IE Business School in Madrid – she accepted the position of consultant at AmaZulu when her father, Sandile Zungu, bought the club. In 2021, she was appointed CEO, a role she has now fully embraced.
For Sinenjabulo, working in a male-dominated industry is not always easy. “Being undermined as a young female who has no previous professional football experience has been one of the challenges,” she admits. “It’s often subliminal, yet quite tangible. With such challenges, you have to ignore the ‘noise’ and focus on your work and what lies ahead of you.”
While the job is demanding, Sinenjabulo believes she brings something unique to the club – the strength of femininity. “I have the ability to deal with matters and people in a lighter, feminine, yet effective and productive manner,” she explains.
On a personal level, Sinenjabulo is driven by people, passion and a desire to see change in whatever space she occupies. “I love people. I love community,” she says. “I was raised by women – strong, independent, formidable women; and I was raised with a whole lot of love. So, I have had no choice but to be the same myself.”
Leading the business side of the club has had its ups and downs, but one of the most memorable moments was the thrill of making it to the MTN8 final. “That was amazing!” says Sinenjabulo. “The culmination of all the hard work and dedication was quite a marvel to watch and experience.”
The best part of the job, for Sinenjabulo, lies in the potential of the club. “I’m working from a blank canvas, so ideating and building on ideas and concepts really get me excited,” she explains. “Working with people who are passionate about the club is also a top-tier feeling.” And, when it comes to the future of the club, she has big plans. “Our wish and commitment to AmaZulu the brand is to get it to a point where it is mentioned among the best African sport brands, both locally and internationally. In the field of play, we are still very committed to collecting some trophies within the next eight seasons before we reach our centenary. And we will.”
When Sinenjabulo is not taking care of business, she loves a bit of ‘me time’, as well as quality time with her baby boy and fiancé. An outdoorsy person, Sinenjabulo enjoys getting out and about. “KZN is beautiful – the greenery, the weather and the friendly people,” she says. “There’s generally a great sense of community.”
