Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
WELLNESS and anti-drug abuse are top on the national agenda, no wonder social football is now becoming the in thing in communities around Manicaland.
In Mutare, Socco Golden Stars is fast turning the Mutare Social Football Association (MUSFA) trophy into their own property after winning it twice on the bounce, and are now gunning for the third bite of the cherry.
The potentially exciting 2026 season of the MUSFA league rolls into life this weekend with fixtures lined up at different venues across the eastern border city.
The final list of teams partaking in the 2026 MUSFA League include Tapi Tapi, Border Pirates, champions, Socco Golden Stars, Mercenaries, Eastern Bullets, Igwee Stars, Studytrade, Holiday Inn, Redwing, TelOne, Musika Stars, Romeos, Sawale, ZRP, Real Stars, Green Stars, City Vendors, Toronto FC, Legends and Remzy.
In a statement, MUSFA confirmed that the league action rolls into life this weekend.
“We are moving ahead with the 2026 season, starting this weekend, and we are expecting to have intense competition among participating teams. We have already made all the arrangements that all teams affiliated to the league go through all the preseason formalities including player registration.
“We are happy that the MSFA League is attracting attention as evidenced by the number of teams joining the league as well as the supporters who throng our match venues. This is one of the ways communities can promote wellness among adults, and also ensure that people have something to occupy themselves, therefore desist from poor health seeking behaviours such as drug and substance abuse,” reads the statement in part.
However, it is the Ruramai Nyakonga-bankrolled Socco Golden Stars – a modest social football team made up of former players in competitive leagues – that is making waves by, not only dominating this local league, but also engaging other popular teams outside Manicaland Province.
Financing the team from his personal resources, young mining entrepreneur, Nyakonga, has assembled a team that is now known in social football circles far afield in areas such Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo, among others.
Socco Golden Stars administrator, Tatenda ‘Gede’ Matiringe, said they are ready for the 2026 season.
“We are happy with the preparations that we have undertaken as a club, and we are ready for season. Yes, we have won this league championship twice, we are confident that we will repeat the feat at the end of the 2026 season. For the record, we are a serious social football team that spares time for training and ensure that the best players in training get the opportunity to play on our match days,” said Matiringe.
