Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SILENTLY, they have been working their way up the ladder, and very few have been noticing.
ZPC Kariba are now clocking 70 days without tasting defeat in the league, since their 0-1 loss against log leaders MWOS at Baobab on April 5.
The electricity men, affectionately known by their legion of fans in the tourist resort as Kauya Katuruturu, are unbeaten in the last nine rounds of action.
They are now sitting fourth on the log standings, as the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League looks to return to action this weekend following a FIFA international break.
Eight points now separate Newton Chitehwe’s men and early pacesetters MWOS, who lead the table with 30 points after 14 rounds of action.
ZPC Kariba have raked up 17 points from their last nine games and their form in the last five rounds has only been bettered by three teams — leaders MWOS, Herentals and third-placed Scottland.
MWOS have registered 11 points in the last five games while The Students, who were the best performing Harare team last season have managed 10 along with Scottland.
But a ZPC Kariba outfit that has over the last two years been battling against relegation, their promising start to the 2025 term has naturally left everyone at the club believing again.
They believe that the glory days of 2014 when ZPC Kariba came so close to winning the championship, could slowly be bouncing back.
“We are super excited about this,” exclaimed ZPC Kariba chairperson Fadzai Chisveto, the only female leader of a Premier Soccer League side.
ZPC Kariba are preparing for a taxing fixture against four-time champions FC Platinum at Mandava on Saturday.
FC Platinum registered their third win of the season when they edged TelOne 1-0 in a Midlands derby at Ascot shortly before the league took a break.
Just like MWOS, Norman Mapeza’s platinum miners are also undefeated after 14 rounds of action.
Their biggest undoing, however, is that FC Platinum have registered more draws than wins in that unbeaten run.
And in ZPC Kariba, FC Platinum face a resurgent side that has kept nine clean sheets in 14 outings.
It’s a marked improvement for Kauya Katuruturu who fought against relegation demons in the last three seasons.
They finished 12th and four points above the drop zone in the 2021/2022 season and were just three clear of the relegation zone after the conclusion of the 2023 competition.
Last season, ZPC Kariba finished 13th and five points above Bulawayo Chiefs, who occupied the last relegation slot.
“We can’t afford to keep fighting relegation.
“We enjoy good support from our sponsors,” added Chisveto.
Bankrolled by power utility firm Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Kauya Katuruturu made their debut in the elite league that memorable season in which they took the title race to the wire, losing only on the last day to Kalisto Pasuwa’s Dynamos.
In that fine season, ZPC Kariba went on a 19-match unbeaten start to the season, a record they still hold in the league.
Whether 2025 debutants MWOS, who have now gone for 14 games unbeaten can eclipse that record remains to be seen.
MWOS who have surprised even themselves, are five games away from matching ZPC Kariba’s record.
ZPC Kariba have built their fine run on a solid rearguard which was the league’s defence last year.
Coach Newton Chitewe prefers to use a back three, which usually comprises the evergreen Boid Mutukure, Marshal Gavaza and Munashe Kamwendo.
That defence rarely gives away much especially at their favourite hunting ground at Nyamhunga, as the likes of giants Highlanders can testify.
Veteran Collen Muleya, is still around and pulling the strings in a central midfield role.
