Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE music giant Alick Macheso is never divorced from football.
The Orchestra Mberikwazvo frontman almost always chants the names of the biggest three teams in the country Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United during live shows.
Often, he plays as a goalkeeper for the Zim Musicians team while one of his backing vocalists Elton Muropa actually swapped the football pitch for a music stage just when he was about to graduate into the Darryn T senior team in the ’90s.
And it’s only fitting that the biggest musical band in the country will spice up the biggest football story of the season when Scottland get crowned at Ascot Stadium tomorrow.
Scottland have re-written history after becoming the first team to win the Premiership in their debut season in 41 years.
The last and only team to have done that in independent Zimbabwe were Black Rhinos, who lifted the trophy in the era of the Super League in 1984. But the Mabvuku team, powered by a deliberate plan and massive investment by club president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya equalled the record in style, wrapping up the title with two games to spare.
And they will now be crowned by the league’s principal sponsors, Delta Beverages with the soundtracks provided by a storied colossal of Zimbabwe music.
In a statement, Delta Beverages said: “We are pleased to announce the official trophy handover ceremony for the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, season champions, Scottland Football Club, set to take place on the 22nd of November 2025 at Ascot Stadium in Gweru.
“This year’s championship marks a remarkable milestone in Zimbabwean football history. Scottland FC has become the first newly promoted team to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title in their debut season — a feat last achieved in 1984, when Black Rhinos Football Club accomplished the same extraordinary milestone. “Their victory signifies not only exceptional talent and determination but also a refreshing new chapter in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s competitive landscape.
“The trophy presentation will celebrate Scottland Football Club ’s outstanding achievement and honour the players, coaching staff and supporters who contributed to this historic win.
“Adding to the excitement renowned performer Aleck Macheso will provide live entertainment, ensuring a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere.” Tomorrow’s ceremony will celebrate a lot with coach Tonderai Ndiraya becoming the first coach to win the league title in successive seasons with different clubs having clipped the championship with Simba Bhora last year.
Several players whom he coached at Simba Bhora like Walter Musona, Tichaona Chipunza, Vasilli Kawe, Mtokhozisi Msebe, Tymon Machope and goalkeeper Talbert Shumba, will also receive their second gold medals in consecutive years.
It will be goalkeeper Nelson Chadya and defender Gareth Madhake’s second league crown in three years, the duo having won the 2023 championship with Ngezi Platinum Stars. And it will be the first time that Warriors players Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona and Terrence Dzvukamanja would get a winners’ medal in the domestic league.
The trio had spent the bulk of their careers in the South African Premiership before retracing their roots.
PSL abandon comic relegation freeze
A day after ZIFA ordered them to follow the league’s competition rules and regulations, the PSL yesterday wrote to their member clubs officially abandoning their comical bid to freeze relegation.
The Premiership club governors had reduced the top-flight into a circus when coming up with a horror decision to scrap relegation and instead vote to increase the size of the league from 18 to 22 teams.
PSL chief executive Rodwell Thabe wrote to the clubs advising them that there will be a demotion of four teams as per the league’s rules and in line with correspondence from the mother body ZIFA. In a major climbdown from their embarrassing move Thabe wrote:
“This serves to inform you that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) wrote to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) informing them of the resolutions passed at the Premier Soccer League’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on November 18, 2025.
“The PSL officially communicated its resolutions specifically the proposal to increase the number of participating teams and the suspension of relegation for the 2025 season along with a request for guidance on the implementa-tion process.
“ZIFA responded via a letter dated 18 November 2025, formally rejecting the PSL’s position. ZIFA’s directive stated the following:
“1. Four clubs must be relegated at the conclusion of the current Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, which ends on 23 November 2025.
“2. Any proposal to increase the number of participating teams or any other related resolution must be submitted to ZIFA Annual General Meeting (AGM) Congress in 2026 for formal consideration.
