Lawrence Moyo
THE 2027 Premier Soccer League season will consist of, at least, three old timers that are returning to the top-flight after years in the wilderness.
Winners of the ZIFA Southern Region have had numerous dances in the domestic top-flight league.
It’s likely to be same story from the ZIFA Northern Region and Eastern Region at the end of the season.
The ZIFA Central Region may go to the wire in a two-horse race that features Blanket Mine and Kwekwe United, who spent one season in the PSL in 2025.
Hwange have already secured a ticket back into the Premiership after shrugging off competition from Talen Vision, Jordan FC and Nkayi United to win the Southern Region title with one round of matches remaining.
A 1-0 win against Bulawayo Warriors at White City Stadium on Saturday pushed Hwange to an unassailable 76 points from 33 matches.
This ended a two-year spell in Division One following their relegation from the Premiership in 2024.
Yadah now need just one win from three matches to return to the Premiership after just one season in the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League following a comprehensive 4-1 win at home to Renco Mine.
This kept Prophet Walter Magaya’s charges four points clear of second-placed, Deportivo La Murambinda, who are on 71 points but have played a game more than Yadah.
Deportivo La Murambida can only achieve a maximum 77 points if they win their remaining two matches while Yadah are on 75 with three matches still to play.
In the Northern Region, the race for promotion is between leaders Black Rhinos and second-placed Harare City while third-placed Chingwere FC are praying for a miracle in the remaining three match days.
Black Rhinos and Chingwere will face off in a potential thriller whose outcome might however, secure promotion for second-placed Harare City if they secure wins in their own fixtures.
Manica Diamonds, TelOne and Triangle United have been relegated and the fourth and final relegation slot is a three-way battle involving AGAMA, ZPC Kariba and Bulawayo Chiefs.
ZPC Kariba might be made to pay dearly for not getting their priorities right in the battle for survival.
Faced with home matches against title-chasing Scottland and relegation-haunted AGAMA, ZPC Kariba put everything they had and beat the champions 1-0 to the pleasure of leaders and newcomers, Hardrock.
However, ZPC Kariba lost a massive six-pointer against AGAMA and it is the result that has left them in serious danger with two matches remaining.
Bulawayo Chiefs have a home match against FC Hunters on MatchDay 33 and then a trip to relegated TelOne on the final weekend.
They have the advantage on paper and look set to just cling on to their Premiership status.
ZPC Kariba have a home assignment against a CAPS United side chasing a top-four finish and an away trip to a Herentals side desperate to finish on a high following a recent slide.
AGAMA travel to Chicken Inn on the penultimate weekend and then host Highlanders on the final day, needing six points from these two clashes to have a chance of surviving — unless ZPC Kariba lose both their outstanding matches.
