Bravo! ……….12 PSL players were at the Mukuru Four Nations Cup tournament

IN what many would term as an interesting development, a total of 12 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) players were at the Mukuru Four-Nations Tournament that concluded in Francistown, Botswana on Tuesday evening.

From the 12 players, Zimbabwe had six that travelled to Botswana.
These are Godknows Murwira of Scottland FC, Andrew Mbeba, Mongameli Tshuma (Highlanders), Hardrock’s Washington Navaya, Jarrisson Selemani of FC Platinum and Future Sibanda who does duty for ZPC Kariba.

From the above mentioned, four players-Murwira, Mbeba, Tshuma and Navaya- managed to get game time on the first day of the tournament when Zimbabwe emphatically dismissed the hosts Botswana 3-0.
Sibanda and Seremani were unused substitutes

Malawi, who were under the guidance of respected Zimbabwean gaffer Kallisto Pasuwa also took along six players that play in Zimbabwe’s elite football league, for the contest.

These were imposing Simba Bhora goalkeeper William Thole, FC Platinum’s Nickson Nyasulu and Maxwell Paioi, CAPS United duo of Chawananga Kaonga and Lloyd Njaliwa, Gomegzani Chirwa who plays for former league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Although Zambia, who were also part of the competition had no players that play in Zimbabwe’s topflight league in their squad, having a dozen players from the Zimbabwe’s flagship league representing their beloved countries at such a stage, rubbing shoulders with a legion of foreign based players, is probably a testimony that the local league is moving in the right direction.

Before the start of the 2026 season, PSL raised the foreign player quota to eight players per club.
The decision was meant to reshape squad building across the country and intensify competition for places as clubs accelerated recruitment before the campaign started.

The increase from five was approved by the PSL Emergency Committee after requests from several top clubs including Dynamos, FC Platinum and Chicken Inn.

Dynamos have DR Congo midfielder Isaac Landu and Malawian forward Stanley Billiat. Besides Paipi and Nyasulu FC Platinum have Namibian Mbakodja Tjahikika, Ghanaian Emmanuel Dogbey and Cameroonian goalkeeper Manfred Ekoi.

On the other hand Chicken Inn have Binwell Katinji of Malawi and Cameroon international Ngnowa Hapmo.

Under the new regulations, clubs can register up to eight foreign players in a season even if some are later deregistered, with the PSL secretariat instructed to amend the rules with immediate effect.

The league believes the change will promote the standard of competition and reinforce the commercial value of the domestic game by enticing broader interest from supporters, sponsors and broadcasters.

List of 12 PSL players that were in the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament
Zimbabwe

Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Mongameli Tshuma (Highlanders) Washington Navaya (Hardrock), Jarrisson Selemani (FC Platinum), Future Sibanda (ZPC Kariba)
Malawi

William Thole (Simba Bhora), Maxwell Paipi (FC Platinum), Nickson Nyasulu (FC Platinum), Gomezgani Chirwa (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Lloyd Njaliwa, Chawananga Kaonga (Caps United)-@FungaiMuderere