Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
BLACK Rhinos are determined to end their top-flight exile and have declared their ambition to win promotion in 2026.
Relegated from the Premier League in 2023, the army side’s immediate return was thwarted in a fiercely competitive 2024 and 2025 Northern Region Soccer League campaign.
Rivals Scottland and AGAMA secured promotion ahead of Rhinos in the two respective years.
In a significant shift from recent years, the club announced it will not be releasing any players from last season’s registered 30-man squad.
“We don’t have anything new for our squad. We are not losing any player,” said club chairman Wellington Mabiginye.
“The team that took part in the 2024 season was totally different from the one we had last season. Now we are going to have continuity.”
This stability, Mabiginye argues, is a game-changer.
“From the executive side we can assure you that stability in the squad is our key factor. So with stability within our camp, we can match our opponents tactically.
“We are not going to make any wholesale changes but only additions of four players as per the coaches’ recommendations.”
Acknowledging the resource advantage of rivals like N’ombeyawora, Mabiginye revealed the club is working on player incentives.
“The club has lined up incentives for the team, designed to spur performance against wealthier opponents.”
This comes at a time when the region managed to secure a new title sponsor, MCM Estates as title sponsors.
MCM Estates Northern Region Soccer League is also now under new leadership, led by Sweeney Mushonga.
“Within a week of our pre-season I believe we would already have registered the bulk of our squad. We under-stand player registration is important for us, and we have no worries as we already have the bulk of our players within our books,” added Mabiginye.
