Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
NO doubt, 2025 has ended on a disastrous note, with the Zimbabwe senior men’s national team providing a heart-breaking reminder of how far the country is from being a serious sporting nation.
Despite this, the year had its positives in the sports fraternity, alongside its fair share of disappointments.
While 2024 and 2025 Castle Lager soccer stars of the year finalist, Tymon Machope’s career is flourishing in the domestic top-flight league, the club that nurtured his talent – now-defunct Midway FC – has nothing to show for refining the Scottland forward’s goal-scoring aptitude.
In fact, owing to unclear circumstances surrounding Machope’s transfer to Simba Bhora, the former Eastern Region Division One side was left a divided house until the club sank into oblivion.
Post Sport has it on good authority that the then Rusape-based Midway FC, which competed in the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One, did not benefit from Machope’s transfer, amid allegations of underhanded dealings by junior staff members.
In tennis, young Tashinga Mtisi, an A-level student at St Dominic’s High School, competed in the Under-18s International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Mozambique this year, fresh from his debut Davis Cup appearance.
Mtisi reflected on the experience, describing it as an eye-opener.
As part of the Zimbabwean team, alongside Benjamin and Courtney Lock, Ethan Sibanda, and non-playing captain, Gwinyai Tongoona, Mtisi faced off against Morocco at Harare Sports Club in March.
Although they were ultimately outplayed by the technically superior Moroccan team, Mtisi cherished the opportunity to represent his country on the big stage.
In athletics, long-distance runners representing Manicaland at the 2025 National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe Cross Country race, held at Allan Wilson High School in Harare in March, delivered impressive performances, securing several medals.
A total of 10 athletes from Manicaland, predominantly juniors, competed in the cross-country event, as many senior athletes were participating in the Kazungula Half Marathon, which took place the same weekend.
The world-class sports tourism event, the international multi-sport event – Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup – saw the 2025 edition bringing athletes from different parts of the globe together in the resort area of Nyanga. The athletes converged in what became an exhilarating day of sport in the stunning landscapes of Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga. The Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup features swimming, cycling, and running categories, catering for athletes of all skill levels. This premier sporting event attracts elite athletes from across the continent and beyond, who exhibit their eagerness to showcase their talents in one of the most picturesque settings in Africa.
As is always the case in previous editions of the exciting event, the 2025 edition, not only promoted fitness and competition, but also fostered a sense of community and appreciation for the natural beauty of Zimbabwe.
In the world of cricket, Mutare-based Mega Market Mountaineers clinched their second trophy in two weeks when they edged Rhinos in the Pro50 Championship at Mutare Sports Club.
Mega Market Mountaineers, who had clinched the highly coveted prize of the 2024/2025 Logan Cup Championship after a resounding victory over Mash Eagles, continued to show that winning was their habit when they faced the indomitable Rhinos.
Upon winning both competitions, Mega-Market Mountaineers’ Terrence Nyakurimwa said: “First, we are so happy to have had the Logan Cup wrapped and to be hosting the Pro50 Championship final at home. We are excited to have won both competitions and asserted our status as a powerhouse in the game after getting the double this season.”
In rugby, key stakeholders in the game in Makoni District showed their relentlessness in their efforts to reignite the verve of the past and embarked on a grassroots talent development initiative aimed at colts to junior rugby players. Makoni District – a rugby talent nursery of repute in yesteryears – revived the good old days of the game through a series of tournaments that kicked off with a Seven’s competition.
The tournament, which is run under the theme – Rugby for a drug-free youth – was hosted by a local outfit, Makoni Wolves Rugby Club, and was played at Makoni Country Club.
As regards the domestic football top-flight league of 2025, apart from the glitz and glamour of a galaxy of arguably the best footie stars available on the local scene, Sakubva Stadium reverberated to the sounds of a ballooning Scottland FC support base when Manica Diamonds hosted the big-name squad.
Scottland brought back the vibe that was missing from the game in years.
Such is the imposing figure that Scottland FC has cut since their promotion into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, a feat the flamboyant outfit earned, thanks to some fair-weather fans shifting allegiance from other clubs to don the Mabviravira colours – exuding pride and allegiance – that still has to pass the test of time.
Regarding events on the field of play, Scottland came to Mutare at a time when the not-so-shiny Gem Boys would have perhaps preferred a different opponent other than the second-placed outfit.
Since their humiliating 1-4 thrashing at the hands of champions Simba Bhora, Manica Diamonds had not won a single match in the previous four rounds of Castle Lager Premiership matches.
They had dropped points through a second-half syndrome that borders on sheer lack of staying power.
Ultimately, the trend led to the expulsion of Jairos Tapera as the Manica Diamonds coach, and his subsequent replacement by his understudy, Tafadzwa Mashiri.
Mashiri soldiered on with the club, and the rookie coach’s troops survived relegation on the last day of the 2025 season.
