Popopo rules again as Agama shelve trophy parade

Langton Nyakwenda and Cutworth Masango

Zimpapers Sports Hub

IT’S now seven days after Agama were crowned Northern Region Soccer League champions, but celebrations are not dying in Mt Darwin, where the team hails from.

The coach behind this wonderful story, Paul “Popopo” Chimalizeni, has also been a wanted man by various media houses and has also appeared on various social media platforms.

Chimalizeni has clinched his second Northern Region Soccer League championship, almost a decade after achieving the same feat with Lengthens.

He was also involved when Simba Bhora clinched the NRSL title in 2022, as Arthur Tutani’s assistant.

Coincidentally, Tutani is the man he replaced at Agama midway through the 2025 season.

Chimalizeni took over the reins in June and presided over 23 games, winning 18 and drawing five.

Last Saturday, he became the first coach to bring Premier Soccer League football to Mt Darwin, after Agama walloped FC Oden 4-0 away in Banket.

That result coupled with the shock outcome from Ngoni Stadium, where MWOS U-19 upstaged favourites and hitherto log leaders N’ombeyawora 1-0 meant that the Agama became champions on the final day.

Now Chimalizeni is also still celebrating, just like the people of Mt Darwin and Mashonaland Central at large.

“People of Mt Darwin are still happy, they could not believe it, it was happiness all over, they didn’t even sleep that night, up to now they are still celebrating,” Chimalizeni told Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday.

“It’s good to be the first coach to bring PSL to Mt Darwin, it’s a legacy.

“I am feeling great.”

Chimalizeni has also seen duty at Premiership side ZPC Kariba and also played a role when Mushowani Stars were promoted into the elite league in 2018.

When he took over at Agama, the Mt Darwin side were trailing N’ombeyawora by seven points.

Somehow, he managed to overturn the deficit.

“When I came in we maintained consistency and self-belief; players had to believe.

“It was all about hard work, the drive, the zeal.

“When I took over we played 23 games and we managed 18 wins and 5 draws.

“I brought in a few players mid-season and I managed to give them some game time which paid off.”

His experience in the NRSL was also handy.

“I know what’s needed and what is not needed.

“There’s tough competition but the trick is you have to win all your games at home, the worst away should be a draw.

“But it’s not an easy stroll, Northern Region is something else, it’s one of the most competitive leagues in the country,” added Chimalizeni.

While Chimazilene and the Agama supporters are in party mood, the club revealed that they have deferred their official trophy parade in Mt Darwin to November 22.

Initially the parade was scheduled for this weekend after their historic promotion into the top-flight.

The club, however, indicated that the delay was necessitated by the absence of Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Mashonaland Central Province, Christopher Magomo, who they want to be the guest of honour.

The club made it a mandate to first present the trophy to the Minister.

“We have postponed the trophy parade to November 22. The club felt that it had to first present the trophy to Honourable Magomo before parading to the rest of our people,” said club secretary general Entrodge Usayi.

Club chairman Emmson Chitsungo said their community is elated with the achievement.

“Everyone is more than happy here they are on cloud nine because they could not believe that Premiership football is now in Mt Darwin up to now, the celebrations are going on,” said Chitsungo.

Agama have also committed to refurbishing Pfura Stadium to ensure it meets the required standards for hosting PSL games.

Usayi said the club executives are this weekend scheduled to meet with stakeholders this weekend and craft strategies on speeding up the upgrading of the stadium.

“The club leadership will be meeting with several stakeholders who will be involved in the renovations of our stadium as we want to make sure that we play our games in Mt Darwin,” said Usayi.

There are indications that should the refurbishment take longer to complete in time for the 2026 season, Agama could play their opening Premiership matches at Wadzanai in Shamva.