Innocent Kurira [email protected]
THE newly promoted quartet of Hwange, Harare City, Blanket Mine and Yadah will get an early opportunity to measure themselves against each other when they converge in Masvingo next weekend for the Champions of Champions competition.
The tournament brings together the four regional Division One champions, offering them an opportunity to compete for national bragging rights after securing promotion into the 2027 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
For Hwange, the competition comes on the back of a successful campaign in which Chipangano reclaimed their place among the country’s football elite, two years after suffering relegation.
Zifa Southern Region chairman Chris Mtungwazi has welcomed the coal miners’ promotion, describing it as a major boost for the region and its football fraternity.
“We are very happy with Hwange’s promotion. It is good for the Southern Region to have a team like Hwange back in the Premier Soccer League. They have a rich football history and their return is something we should all celebrate,” said Mtungwazi.
He believes the Masvingo competition presents the region with another opportunity to underline its football credentials, with the Southern Region eager to add the Champions of Champions crown to Hwange’s promotion celebrations.
“We are going to Masvingo with a positive mindset. We hope to do well and, more importantly, clinch the Champions of Champions title. It would be a great achievement for the region to have Hwange promoted and also bring home this trophy,” he said.
The competition will also provide an early assessment of the four sides ahead of their transition into the top-flight league, where they will face a considerably different level of competition.
For Blanket Mine, the tournament offers another opportunity to make a statement after securing a historic first promotion into the Premier Soccer League.
Harare City return to the top flight after their absence, while Yadah have also secured a return to the elite league.
Hwange’s promotion is particularly significant for the Southern Region, which will have another familiar name back in the country’s top-flight competition.
