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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
THE excitement is yet to die down at the recently-promoted domestic topflight football clubs.
Three of the teams will be playing in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for the first time next season.
Shamva-based Simba Bhora, Green Fuel of Chisumbanje and Gweru side Sheasham are all set for their debut appearances in the modern topflight.
They will be joined by perennial relegation/promotion candidates Hwange, who are returning to the big stage for the third time in 12 years.
Interestingly, no team from any of the big three cities — Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare — got promoted. Simply, it means the topflight game is spreading to many parts of the country; there will be more travelling for the participating teams.
But will the newboys be able to stand the heat? Premiership football is not child’s play.
This year, three of the promoted teams got relegated again. This has almost been the trend in recent years. Here is a background of the promoted sides:
Sheasham
After missing out by a whisker in 2019, Sheasham were the first among the promoted quartet to get their 2023 Premiership berth, this time around.
The Gweru-based club clinched the ZIFA Central Region Division One championship without tasting defeat. Sheasham won 17 of their 26 games and nine ended in draws.
The side is coached by former Chapungu gaffer John Nyikadzino, who was rewarded with a two-year contract extension following the success. Nyikadzino had Premiership experience with teams such as Chapungu and Nichrut.
The club also honoured outstanding players with McDonald Mavuto winning the most improved player; Liberty Chiramba goalkeeper of the season and Magazi Fizo the most consistent player.
Striker Liberty Masveure won the Golden Boot award after scoring 16 goals and Physwel Madhazi was the most consistent player.
Sheasham will represent the ZIFA Central Region where clubs from the region have failed to last the mile in the top flight league. Most of them have struggled to survive more than a season.
Hardbody, Triple B, Border Strikers, Nichrut, Whawha and TelOne are some of the clubs that found it difficult going beyond one season while Shabanie Mine and Chapungu have lasted more. But PSL champions FC Platinum are the only team from the region that has never been relegated.
Sheasham are sponsored by property developing company Sheasham Investments.
GreenFuel
The promotion of GreenFuel is expected to add excitement to Zimbabwean football as they are the first team from Chisumbanje to be promoted to the PSL after winning the Eastern Region Division One Soccer League title.
GreenFuel were guided successfully by former Dynamos coach Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa in his first season at the club.
They won the Eastern Region title with four games to spare. They finished 12 points clear of second-placed Mutare City Rovers.
Mutasa appears to have perfected the art as he previously earned promotion with Kiglon (2007) and Highway (2008).
He will be back in the Premiership, four years after leaving Harare giants Dynamos. Joseph “Shabba” Takaringofa is expected to continue as his assistant while former Black Aces, Dynamos and CAPS United midfielder Albert “Dhalala” Mabika is also a member of the technical department.
They have in their ranks a host of recycled ex-Premiership players such as veteran forward Ishmael Lawe, Cleopas Kapupurika, Livingstone Genti, Leroy Murape, Tendai “DJ Malaika” Nyamadzawo and former Dynamos captain, Obey Mwerahari.
The club is sponsored by the leading ethanol producer GreenFuel (Pvt) Ltd. They play their home games at the Green Fuel Arena, about 500km from Harare, but the facility will need to be approved by the PSL if they hope to play in Chisumbanje next season.
Hwange
Hwange are not entirely new to the Premiership. They have been relegated three times in the last few years and they managed to come back to the topflight in 2008, 2018 and 2022.
Chipangano were last relegated in 2019, having returned to the topflight league earlier the same season.
The Hwange Colliery Company-sponsored team bounced back stronger this year and won the region’s sole ticket to the PSL with two games to spare. They had spent three years in the trenches of second-tier football before they found their way back again under the guidance of former Bulawayo City coach, Try Ncube.
Ncube was appointed substantive coach after replacing Bongani Mafu in March.
Last season, they missed out on the promotion ticket to Bulawayo City, who ironically, are making their way out.
Hwange held end of year awards to honour outstanding players with ex-Chicken Inn player Canaan Nkomo getting the Soccer Star of the Year. Ex-Highlanders keeper Nedrick Madeya was also part of the team and was voted the Most Consistent Player along with Brian Mlotshwa. The other players with Premiership experience that were part of the team and received honours included Shepard Gadzikwa, Thabani Goredema, Ernest Gwitima and veteran defender Felix Chindungwe.
Their promotion meant teams will be taking the long journey to Hwange again next season.
Simba Bhora
Simba Bhora completed the list of the promoted teams after bagging the ZIFA Northern Region Soccer League, beating fierce competition from Herentals Under-20 and Golden Eagles.
This is the first team a team from Shamva won Premiership status and if all goes well they will be able to host their PSL home games at their Wadzanai ground. The venue is currently being upgraded to meet the topflight standards and is expected to have a capacity of 10 000.
Veteran coach Arthur Tutani led the side to the PSL after winning his third Division One League title as coach. The side was captained by veteran former Dynamos defender Brighton Tuwaya and had managed to woo several players with Premiership experience in their quest for promotion.
They had players like the ex-CAPS United trio of Hardlife Zvirekwi, Webster Tafa and Tinashe Balakasi who was the Golden Boot winner with 29 goals.
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