marble nkomo
Langton Nyakwenda, [email protected]
A total of 580 players are registered with the Premier Soccer League every season, but at the end of the marathon, only 11 make it on the Soccer Stars’ calendar.
The 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League kicks off on Friday at Rufaro, where new boys FC Hunters will play host to last year’s runners up MWOS.
As the clock ticks towards Friday, fans are relishing what could be a riveting season.
The pre-season transfer market was hectic as teams made adjustments to their squads.
Action now shifts from the boardroom to the field of play, starting with the clash between FC Hunters and MWOS.
The 2026 season could provide a breakthrough for some players who made calculated moves during the transfer window.
Several players have impressed in preseason games, including last Sunday’s Castle Challenge Cup match between defending champions Scottland and Chibuku Super Cup holders, Dynamos.
Scottland thrashed DeMbare 5-0 with central midfielder Abubakar Moffat conducting the orchestra, while Knowledge Musona fired some warning shots with a brilliant long range goal.
Sources close to Musona say the former Warriors skipper is determined to make a huge impact this season.
The 35-year-old striker joined Mabviravira in the second half of last season and did not have enough games to stamp his authority.
Now that he has a full season ahead of him at Scottland, Musona is convinced he can be among the league’s best XI, come end of season.
“The boy has been training hard.
“He is feeling fresh and hungry,” a source within Scottland told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
Mateo Mtembo, a staunch Scottland supporter from Manyame in Chitungwiza, was blown away by Moffat’s immediate impact in Mabviravira colours.
Moffat joined Scottland from MWOS.
“That one is a special player,” Mtembo said.
“The way he controls the ball, his movement, his passing range are all fantastic.
“The good thing is that national team coach Marian Marinica was at Rufaro when Moffat controlled the midfield with aplomb.”
Scottland edged MWOS in last season’s title race and one area that the Norton side addressed during the off-season was the goalkeeping department.
The Punters conceded 23 times in the league with Martin Mapisa and Francis Tizayi rotating.
The former was the first choice but the gangly keeper has since left for new boys, Hardrock.
His replacement is Tedious Baye, an experienced goalie, who has played for Greenfuel and Manica Diamonds.
The 30-year-old Baye made his PSL debut with Manica Diamonds in 2023 and has kept double digit clean sheet figures since then.
Another goalkeeper under the spotlight is former national team player Simba Chinani, who is making a return to Simba Bhora after missing the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury.
The former Dynamos goalie will tussle for the number one jersey with 2025 Golden Glove winner William Thole.
Go Buju Go lost a couple of key players who led them to third position last term, including the midfield trio of Junior Makunike, Donald Mudadi and 2025 Soccer Star of the Year second runner up, Emmanuel Ziocha.
They also lost rising defender Isheanesu Mauchi and Namibian striker Isaka Gurirab.
The 2024 champions have gone back to Namibia to find Gurirab’s replacement.
Leevi Alfeus, 25, comes in with potential, having earned four caps for Namibia’s national team.
Highfield based football enthusiast, Martin Changachirere, thinks some of the foreigners now in the PSL could add more value to the league.
Changachirere speaks highly of Scottland left back Twala Kwake of Eswatini and Stanley Billiat who joined Dynamos from Malawi giants, Nyasa Big Bullets.
“Abubakar Moffat will cause problems. Scottland’s left back Twala is also good.
“I have high hopes for Billiat who is now at Dynamos,” he said.
DeMbare also brought in Witness Shave from Triangle United.
The 19-year-old forward was one of the contenders for the 2025 Castle Lager PSL’s Most Promising Player award, after a stellar season with Triangle United.
Shave showed a glimpse of what he can do, when he rattled the cross bar with a first time volley, during Sunday’s Castle Challenge Cup.
Beitbridge based football analyst Biggie Mabhidhi believes another ex-Triangle United star, Munashe Bamara, will shine for new boys Hardrock.
Bamara will be part of an exciting midfield crew that also has Junior Makunike and Donald Mudadi.
“I think this could be Bamara’s year,” Mabhidhi said.
“He played well for Triangle United and now he is at a team that has the resources and can provide a conducive environment for the boy to blossom,” added Mabhidhi.
Fellow new boys, FC Hunters, have their own gems that are still unheralded.
They actually have their own “Peter Ndlovu” in Oden Sira, a flying winger expected to cause havoc.
Tadiwa Huni, Junior Meya, Russy Chapango and Benjamin Goliath are some of the names to look out for
from FC Hunters, who host MWOS in the season opener at Rufaro on Friday.
TelOne finished fifth last season and their coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa is eyeing a better show from his boys this term.
The Wi-Fi Boys lost Golden Boot winner Washington Navaya to Hardrock but they believe former LA Galaxy striker Farai Matatu is an able replacement.
The 26-year-old former Michigan State University player turned out for relegated Kwekwe United last season.
Another striker expected to shine is CAPS United’s Obriel Chirinda, who joined Makepekepe from Ngezi Platinum Stars with a rich goal scoring CV.
A reunion with another ex-Ngezi Platinum Stars striker Takunda Benhura is generating excitement among CAPS United fans.
Roving left back Talent Chamboko is also tipped to finally explode at Makepekepe after stints at ZPC Kariba, Manica Diamonds and Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Chicken Inn signed a number of foreign players including former FC Lupopo right back Sefu Louison but ex-Yadah Stars defensive linkman Marvelous Faranando could turn to be a key player for Tonderai Ndiraya’s side.
Online Reporter