Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
ITS now a two-horse race to determine the 2026 Zimbabwe football champions.
But, the title run-in makes it very difficult to tell where the smart money lies between leaders Scottland and newcomers Hardrock with seven matches remaining in the season.
With Dynamos falling out of the race, the focus is now on the Premiership’s two biggest spenders.
Premiership newcomers Hardrock looked in danger of dropping points to fellow debutants FC Hunters at Rufaro on Saturday, but a last-minute howler by the hosts’ goalkeeper gifted Prince Dube a dramatic winner to keep the gap at the top at three points.
The Premiership’s leading goalscorer, Washington Navaya, had equalised for Kelvin Kaindu’s men who have the best record over the past five matchdays.
Kaindu, however, used the post-match interview on Saturday to claim his target for this season is to survive relegation adding that pressure was on Scottland, who have higher ambitions.
The former Highlanders, How Mine, Triangle and Dynamos coach suffered two heartbreaks in 2012 and 2013 while in charge of Bosso as they lost the title to Kalisto Pasuwa’s Dynamos on goal difference.
In the 2012 season, Dynamos and Highlanders were tied on 69 points from 30 matches and DeMbare clinched the title by virtue of a goal difference of plus 44 against Bosso’s plus 34.
In the tougher 2013 season, the two rivals were tied on 54 points and Pasuwa’s charges prevailed on the strength of a goal difference of plus 21 compared to Kaindu’s plus 18. He is now hoping to end the misery with Hardrock this season.
Champions Scottland turned to veteran Knowledge Musona whose first half double from set pieces earned the leaders a nervy 2-1 victory over 2024 champions, Simba Bhora at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on the same day.
Musona underlined his status as one of the country’s leading dead-ball specialists.
It was a huge relief for Norman Mapeza after dropping points in recent matches against Highlanders (0-1), MWOS (0-0) and Dynamos (1-1), which allowed Hardrock to narrow the gap from seven points to three.
From the remaining seven matchdays, both Scottland and Hardrock have four home matches and three trips. Leaders Scottland now only have two trips out of the capital, away to ZPC Kariba on MatchDay 30 set for October 10-11 and then to Gibbo against Triangle on the final weekend scheduled for November 21-22.
The other away match for Scottland will be in Harare against CAPS United on MatchDay 32 scheduled for the final weekend of October.
Scottland president Scott Sakupwanya is on record saying CAPS United are their biggest rivals.
At home, Scottland have four tricky assignments against former champions FC Platinum (September 2), newcomers AGAMA, former champions Chicken Inn and neighbours Herentals.
This means Scottland will face THREE former Zimbabwe champions in their remaining seven matches.
Mapeza has the distraction of Cup tournaments with the CAF Champions League top of the list followed by the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and the Chibuku Super Cup.
The club’s midseason transfer business was specifically for the CAF Champions League with the challenge being to make it to the group stage of the continent’s lucrative tournament.
Hardrock have equally difficulty seven assignments in the title run-in as they face three tough matches against former Zimbabwe champions – Highlanders, Dynamos and Simba Bhora away from their favourite Chahwanda.
At home they have another former Zimbabwe champions, FC Platinum, together with relegation-threatened TelOne, MWOS and Bulawayo Chiefs.
Hardrock’s Chibuku Super Cup first round against Bulawayo Chiefs at Chahwanda ended in chaotic scenes with the visitors accused match officials of what they deemed biased officiating.
The penalty, which decided the match, should not have been given, according to television replays.
The highlight of Hardrock’s run-in is, no doubt, their trip to Rufaro to face Dynamos on MatchDay 31 scheduled for October 17 given the drama surrounding their ill-fated reverse fixture at Chahwanda.
The match was abandoned due to crowd trouble at 1-1 with 14 minutes remaining and a PSL disciplinary committee ruling resulted in the match being concluded at a neutral Baobab.
Dynamos scored late and secured a 2-1 victory, which Hardrock unsuccessfully appealed to the Zifa Appeals Committee.
Remaining Seven Matches
- Both teams host former champions, FC Platinum
- Scottland face THREE former Zimbabwe champions -FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and CAPS United.
- Hardrock face FOUR former Zimbabwe champions -Highlanders, Dynamos, Simba Bhora and FC Platinum.
- Both teams host relegation-troubled sides. Scottland host AGAMA while Hardrock entertain TelOne.
- Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu faces two of his former employers away from Chahwanda -Highlanders at Barbourfields (September 20) and Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium (October 17).
- Scottland coach Norman Mapeza faces his former employers, FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium on September 2.
