Sibonokuhle Mboni [email protected]
FILABUSI-based side Jordan FC president Orchard Dube has praised his players and technical team for a brilliant season’s run after they finished third in the Pacific Breeze Zifa Southern Region League this season.
He was speaking at the club’s awards night held in Filabusi last weekend.
It was the highest finish ever by the team this coming after a 2025 season in which at some stage they stared on relegation before coach Johannes Nhumwa took over.
Nhumwa was able to steer the ship to safety and that became the foundation for the 2026 run in which apart from finishing third they reached the Round of 16 of the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
The Insiza based side ended the season on 70 points, seven behind champions Hwange FC and two adrift of runners-up Talen Vision FC.
Only Hwange who lost three matches, suffered fewer defeats as Jordan only lost four times.
Jordan won 20 matches, drew 10 and scored 55 goals while conceding 24 figures that underline a season few outside Filabusi had predicted.
They finished ahead of Nkayi United FC, who were fourth on 64 points, Bulawayo Warriors FC (fifth, 60 points) and Bulawayo City FC (ninth, 44 points).
Speaking at the club’s end-of-season party and awards ceremony, Dube said the team had silenced doubters to emerge as the surprise package of the 2026 season adding that Jordan FC had “shattered the glass ceiling.”
“When we started this journey at Mthwakazi Stadium at the beginning of the year, very few people outside of Filabusi gave us a chance. We were looked at as a young football club still finding its feet in a notoriously ruthless league,” he said.
The Matabeleland South side’s defining result was a 7-1 thrashing of Zimbabwe Saints at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
Saints finished 11th on 43 points.
“Even when our run ended, we did not bow down. We showed the country our style, our grit and our unbreakable spirit,” said Dube of their Munhumutapa Challenge Cup run.
He singled out goalkeeper Anxious Mutanda whose good saves kept the team in many games and earned him a place among the region’s finest shot-stoppers.
Dube also praised Shemiah Mutonono, Tavonga Buda, Tinashe Jimu and the rest of the squad for their tactical intelligence, discipline and athletic drive.
Despite the celebrations, he said the club was already looking ahead.
“Let this third-place trophy not be our final destination. Let it be the foundation. The top-flight clubs are watching us, now the region respects us and next season we are coming for the absolute top spot,” he said.
He thanked the technical team for instilling a recognisable identity and discipline in the young squad and the Insiza community for making Mthwakazi Stadium “an absolute fortress.”
A number of players were honoured on the evening for sterling performances in 2026.
Buda was crowned the club’s Player of the Year and walked away with the Players’ Player of the Season award too.
Jephias Sibanda who scored 14 goals in 2026, was honoured for his precision in front of goal with teenager Mutonono the Most Improved Player.
Tinashe Jimu, the club’s rock solid centreback, won the Most Disciplined Player award with Simplicio Chigada, the Most Committed Player for 2026.
Sizalobuhle Dube and Sandiso Ncube won the Most Loyal Players’ award as Panashe Nyoni got the Most Composed Player gong.
Jimu beat his teammates to the Defender of the Year award with Nelson Mlalazi the Most Improved Player.
Nhumwa was honoured for guiding the team to third place.
