Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Social Football Association (MUSFA) outfit, Socco Golden Stars, capped a memorable season with a befitting league championship accolade for the second time on the trot.
The Ruramai Nyakonga-bankrolled team, a collection of former footie stars, some of whom played at the highest level of the game in the country, clinched the title in its debut season last year.
Some of its key players include Cleopas Charera, former Eastern Lions midfield workaholic, Liberty ‘Leeman’ Ndadzungira, Gwinyai Nyabanda, former Motor Action and Dynamos defence lynchpin, Themba Ndlovu, Daniel Chipongo, Talent Mudiwa, John Rusanga, former Highway rock solid defender, Patrick ‘Fancho’ Alifasi, and Collins Muzavazi, among many more.
Tatenda ‘Gede’ Matiringe, the club’s administrator, himself a talismanic midfielder during his competitive football playing days, said one of the key aims is to be role models to youngsters and encourage abstinence from drug and substance abuse.
“We are a serious social football club that seeks to be role models to young stars to stay away from drug and substance abuse. Apart from youngsters, we also encourage the same among former football stars, and this is the reason we have many of them within our ranks,” he said.
In winning the 2025 championship, Socco Golden Stars outmanoeuvred fellow title aspirants, ZRP Mutare and Border Pirates who settled for second and third position respectively.
On the bottom end of the table, Real Stars FC, Remzy FC and basement outfit Holiday Inn had a terrible 2025 season where the final log standings clearly indicate that the trio has not been able to fulfil fixtures.
Be that as it may, victors, Socco Golden Stars are already preparing to pop the champagne bottles with plans for a second anniversary tournament already on course.
Matiringe said: “We are also preparing for our second anniversary tournament to be held on December 6 at a venue to be advised in due course. This is part of the ongoing efforts that started when we established this club so that we set the right standards.”
During the year 2025, Socco Golden Stars travelled far and wide across the country, and also hosted some flamboyant nationally acclaimed social football clubs that include popular musician, Freeman owned Gallis outfit among others.
