Innocent Kurira
WILL Kelvin Kaindu finally get his hands on the coveted Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League title, or is the Zambian tactician heading for another painful championship heartbreak?
More than a decade after twice watching the championship slip through his fingers with
Highlanders, Kaindu is on the brink of finally claiming the coveted prize, this time with ambitious newcomers Hardrock.
The Kasongo Boys are just 90 minutes away from completing a remarkable first-season story in the top flight, but the memories of 2012 and 2013 remain an unavoidable part of Kaindu’s championship journey.
On both occasions, the coach led Highlanders into a fierce title battle against Dynamos, only to finish second.
The 2012 heartbreak was particularly cruel, with both teams finishing on 69 points after 30 matches. Dynamos, however, claimed the championship on goal difference, boasting +43 against Highlanders’ +34.
A year later, history repeated itself.
Both sides again finished level, this time on 54 points, but DeMbare emerged champions with a +21 goal difference compared to Highlanders’ +18.
Now, with Hardrock sitting at the summit of the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table, Kaindu has another opportunity to rewrite his championship story.
The coach, however, insists he is not allowing the weight of expectation to get to him as the title race heads for a dramatic conclusion.
“Every game has its own pressure and every game is different. We are not looking at this as something extraordinary. Our focus is to prepare for the next match and do what is required of us,” said Kaindu.
He is also refusing to allow the painful memories of his Highlanders days to dominate his thoughts.
“I am not thinking about what happened in the past. Those are things that happened in football, but right now my focus is on what we have in front of us. We have a job to do and that is what matters,” he said.
Hardrock missed their first opportunity to wrap up the championship last Saturday when they were held to a goalless draw by Simba Bhora at Wadzanai Stadium.
The setback allowed defending champions Scottland to close the gap to two points after thrashing Herentals 4-0 at Rufaro.
Hardrock now sit on 70 points, with Scottland on 68, setting up a tense final round in which Kaindu’s men host FC Platinum at Chahwanda, while Scottland travel to face Triangle United.
Victory will guarantee Hardrock their maiden Premiership championship, regardless of what happens elsewhere.
For Kaindu, however, the immediate concern is not the mathematics of the title race but having his players available for the decisive assignment.
With several members of his squad away on international duty, the coach is hoping they return without injuries during the break.
“At this stage, what we want is for the players who are away on national team duty to come back fit and without injuries. We need everyone available so that we can prepare properly for the final game,” he said.
Interestingly, Kaindu is reunited at Hardrock with Masimba Mambare, another former Highlanders player who experienced the agony of those title near-misses.
The veteran has also played an important role in Hardrock’s championship push, including scoring a dramatic late winner against Dynamos.
Hardrock have already written an impressive story in their maiden Premiership campaign, transforming themselves from survival candidates into genuine title contenders.
But the final chapter remains unwritten.
For Kaindu, the opportunity is bigger than another league campaign. It is a chance to finally lay to rest the memories of 2012 and 2013 and claim the championship that has twice eluded him.
Will this finally be his year, or will Zimbabwean football deliver another cruel twist?
