Lovemore Dube [email protected]
AN exciting finale is on the cards as the race for the Castle Lager Premiership title and relegation fights intensify in the last four matches of the season.
Kwekwe side Hardrock returned to the top of the standings with a 2-0 win over Bulawayo Chiefs on Saturday.
It was an afternoon in which last year’s Golden Boot winner Washington Navaya scored his 17th goal of the season. That feat saw him equal his 2025 season tally in a season he deservedly was crowned Footballer of the Year, a rare feat for a Gweru-based player.
Before him only Maxwell Dube then with Chapungu two decades ago had brought the accolade to the Midlands capital.
Saturday’s win left Hardrock who are coached by Kelvin Kaindu on 63 points from 30 matches with just four rounds of action left in the 2026 season.
Second placed Scottland who had been touted as a team on course to win back to back titles, a feat achieved by Dynamos, FC Platinum, CAPS United and Highlanders in the past, were beaten 1-0 by ZPC Kariba who are involved in the relegation fight.
The loss by the expensively assembled Scottland left them on 61 points, two behind the Midlands giants Hardrock.
If Hardrock win the title, they would have become the second side to win the title on their debut season as did Scottland in 2025.
The last four fixtures for either team would be compeling engagements to win. A slip up can spell disaster.
Hardrock’s next opponents in the league race will be Dynamos, a fixture that should provide some explosive action in Harare, with their next a home tie against MWOS who seem to have lost steam and are seventh on the log.
After the home tie Hardrock will travel to Simba Bhora a team that is on the relegation border line.
Simba Bhora need a point to guarantee their stay in the Premiership.
Hardrock’s final match of the season will be a Midlands Derby against FC Platinum.
On the other end Harare-based Scottland will play Chicken Inn at home in their next game, followed by a Harare derby against CAPS United, home clash with CAPS United before wrapping it up
with an away trip to Triangle who may still have something to fight for on the day as they are deep into relegation worries.
At the bottom half a dozen teams are still not safe and among them are Manica Diamonds, TelOne, Triangle, Agama, Bulawayo Chiefs, ZPC Kariba, FC Hunters and Simba Bhora.
Weekend Results
CAPS United 0-0 Simba Bhora, Agama 1-2 FC Hunters, Chicken Inn 0-0 FC Platinum, Hardrock 2-0 Bulawayo Chiefs, Herentals 0-2 MWOS, Manica Diamonds 0-0 TelOne, ZPC Kariba 1-0
Scottland, Ngezi Platinum 1-0 Highlanders, Triangle 1-1 Dynamos
These are the fixtures for the championship favourites and relegation haunted teams: Top Two
Hardrock (1)
Dynamos v Hardrock, Hardrock v MWOS, Simba Bhora v Hardrock, Hardrock v FC Platinum
Scottland (2)
Scottland v Chicken Inn, CAPS United v Scottland, Scottland v Herentals, Triangle v Scottland
Relegation Haunted
Manica Diamonds (18th)
Highlanders v Manica Diamonds, Manica Diamonds v Bulawayo Chiefs, Dynamos v Manica Diamonds, Manica Diamonds v MWOS
TelOne (17th)
TelOne v Hunters, Agama v TelOne, Highlanders v TelOne, TelOne v Bulawayo Chiefs
Triangle (16th)
MWOS v Triangle, Triangle v Simba Bhora, FC Platinum v Triangle, Triangle v Scottland
Agama (15th)
ZPC Kariba v Agama, Agama v TelOne, Chicken Inn v Agama, Agama v Highlanders
Bulawayo Chiefs (14th)
Bulawayo Chiefs v Ngezi Platinum, Manica Diamonds v Bulawayo Chiefs, Bulawayo Chiefs v FC Hunters, TelOne v Bulawayo Chiefs
ZPC Kariba (13th)
ZPC Kariba v Agama, Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba, ZPC Kariba v CAPS United, Herentals v ZPC Kariba
FC Hunters (12th)
TelOne v FC Hunters, FC Hunters v Highlanders, Bulawayo Chiefs v FC Hunters, FC Hunters v Dynamos
Simba Bhora (11th)
Simba Bhora v Herentals, Triangle v Simba Bhora, Simba Bhora v Hardrock, Ngezi Platinum Stars v Simba Bhora
