DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYERS (U19S BORN FROM JANUARY 2006)

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYERS (U19s Born from January 2006)

Kwekwe United . . . . . . . . (0)1

Scottland FC . . . . . . . . . .  (2)5

IN a performance of ruthless efficiency and breathtaking flair, Scottland FC made history to clinch the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title in their debut top-flight season, routing Kwekwe United with a scintillating 5-1 victory at Ascot Stadium.

The final whistle was immediately followed by a torrential downpour — a coronation that felt like a shower of blessings from the football gods upon the ecstatic “Mabvivira” fans.

Scottland FC has now etched its name into the annals of Zimbabwean football, becoming only the second club in the history of the modern Premier League to win the championship in its maiden season, a feat last achieved by the legendary Black Rhinos class of 1984. 

With two matches to spare, yesterday's victory lifted Scottland to an unassailable 65 points, securing the title, seven points ahead of second-placed MWOS.

The man orchestrating this extraordinary success is coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who now adds another golden chapter to his coaching career. 

Ndiraya has achieved the unthinkable — guiding two clubs to maiden league titles in consecutive seasons, having lifted the championship with Simba Bhora in their second season last year. 

His strategic acumen has been the cornerstone of Scottland’s triumphant season.

Speaking after the match, an emotional Ndiraya was quick to underscore his team's unique achievement and hit back at critics.

“I think we are the first team since Black Rhinos in 1984, but the difference between us and Black Rhinos is that they were assembled in Division One, won the title there, and then won the title in their first season in the PSL,” Ndiraya said. 

“We assembled our team this year and won the title. So [we were] champions in Division One, then assembled a new, strong team for the Premier League, and here we are. This is history.”

He then addressed the early-season doubters.

 “I think there was a lot of negativity around the recruitment policy back then, but I’m happy that in the end, we have the last laugh. So, I want to thank our fans for sticking with us, even when things were not good. We have brought a trophy, a huge 

trophy for that matter, for them.”

On his personal achievement, Ndiraya was reflective: “It’s not easy to change from one team to another, assemble a new team, and win the league. That record, that history, will be stuck in my heart for quite a long time.”

From the moment the match kicked off, the visitors, donning their championship stripes, were intent on claiming their destiny.

Scottland started on the ascendancy, and it took a spectacular, point-blank save from Kwekwe United goalkeeper Elton Nechiware to deny a Tymon Machope header. 

Nechiware, in a valiant but ultimately futile effort, also acrobatically tipped a wicked free-kick from veteran star Knowledge Musona over the bar.

The pressure proved relentless. The deadlock was finally broken at the half-hour mark when the irrepressible Khama Billiat put Scottland one hand on the trophy. After a clever flick-on by Machope, Billiat demonstrated his world-class quality by delicately chipping the ball over the on-rushing Nechiware, sending the travelling fans into a frenzy.

 Four minutes later, the Golden Boot contender Machope doubled the score. Receiving a brilliant through ball from midfield maestro Mthokozisi Msebe, Machope finished coolly for his 14th goal of the season. 

Only Nechiware’s brilliance again, with a stunning stop to deny a Machope brace before the break, kept the scoreline manageable.

The second half began with an early scare for the hosts as Scottland substitute, Takudzwa Chimhowa, rattled the crossbar directly from a corner kick before the ball bounced out of play. Normal service — Scottland dominance and Nechiware heroics — soon resumed, with the Kwekwe shot-stopper denying Musona's fierce rising shot from inside the box.

The hosts had a brief flicker of hope on 85 minutes when a snapshot from outside the box marked their first meaningful shot on target.

But the Scottland machine was unstoppable. Veteran defender Ronald Pfumbidzai made it three in the 70th minute with a well-taken goal, putting the result beyond doubt. Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi, a 16-year-old talent, put the icing on the cake, bagging the fourth goal — his first in the league — four minutes later from close range. 

The teenager would go on to win a stoppage-time penalty, which Machope confidently dispatched to complete his brace.

SOURCE:NEWSDAY

WASHINGTON NAVAYA never saw this coming. That’s for certain.

His pensive look and disposition while waiting in the packed auditorium staging the Soccer Stars of the Year banquet told it all.

Until his name was called out, he was never really amongst the front-runners as per bookmakers’ odds.

Of course he had been certain about one award . . . the Golden Boot gong as his 17 goals for TelOne had seen him pip Scottland striker Tymon Machope (16 goals) to the prize.

The Soccer Stars award seemed set for either title-winning Scottland defender Kevin Moyo or fans favourite and Dynamos captain Emmanuel Jalai.

But bookmakers don’t always get it right.

The 2025 season was one that provided it all. Drama, tears and then joy.

And most certainly a huge chunk of joy rested on Navaya right on the final night of the top-flight year.

Given there was no one predominantly outstanding throughout the season, it had to be his goals that carried TelOne and ultimately Navaya to the podium.

It had to be his turnaround season to win it all.

At 27 years old and in his sixth term in the top-flight, characterised by more disappointment than satisfaction, Navaya is finally king of the Premiership.

And for all the noisy build-up to it; a whirlwind revolving around just Moyo and Jalai, it was Navaya who emerged top of the cream.

Jalai never made it amongst the top three.

He had, however, provided the silver lining on a largely gloomy league campaign for DeMbare in which they only guaranteed their Premiership survival on the final day of the season.

Instead it was Simba Bhora’s Emmanuel Ziocha who was voted the second runner-up and just like in 2017 when he was still at FC Platinum, Moyo settled for the first runner-up place.

For Navaya his goals helped TelOne complete a remarkable turnaround.

The Gweru outfit were almost demoted last year, but with Navaya leading the line, they secured a fifth place finish.

His goals were massive.

His assists were decisive.

And one would feel he deserved to put the icing on the cake at the end of a season he outperformed his own expectations.

And there he was.

Seated in the middle of his outstanding colleagues, also voted amongst the best 11 for the season; Ziocha, Ishe Mauchi and William Thole (both Simba Bhora), Jarrison Selemani (FC Platinum), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Tymon Machope and Moyo (Scottland), Billy Veremu and Aboubakar Moffat (MWOS); silent and never imagining he would walk away with the biggest individual prize to join a roll of honour with big names like the late George Shaya and legendary ex-Warriors skipper Peter Ndlovu. There he was, as humble as he has always been.

And to tag the Golden Boot trophy, which is the only one he was looking to lift, along with the big one was a feeling he said he has never had before.

“This is my finest hour. I never imagined it will go this way. I give it to my teammates, my coach Herbert Maruwa and his technical staff.

“I would also like to salute the TelOne management and everyone involved, especially the fans,” he said.

“For me to score those goals and be able to get those assists, it’s because of the whole ecosystem.”

Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya was the favourite to win his second Coach of the Year accolade on the trot after making history by winning the league title for two consecutive seasons with different teams retained his crown while Malawi’s Simba Bhora goalkeeper William Thole won the Goalkeeper of the Year award after keeping 17 clean sheets for the Shamva side who finished third on the table.

Scottland’s hotshot Mafious Chihweta took home the Rookie of the Year award while Jalai got his consolation when winning the Fans Choice Award.

Africa Cup of Nations bound match offical Brighton Chimene  retained the Referee of The Year award

SOURCE: THE HERALD

DYNAMOS have won an unprecedented third Chibuku Super Cup crown in a row after beating Triangle 1-0 at Gibbo Saturday afternoon.

Enasio Perezo (Jnr) scored the solitary goal that earned the Glamour Boys smiles to wrap up a disappointing season with something to brag on.

All season, DeMbare struggled and almost failed to survive relegation.

But they put all that behind to still turn a disappointing term into memorable one.

After winning the crown in 2023 and 2024, Dynamos were already the record holders for being the only team to successfully defend the premium knockout tournament but they weren’t the only team with two Chibuku Super Cup stripes.

But they are now the first club to pick the Chibuku Super Cup gold for three times.

Yet kickoff was delayed by 20 minutes following some heated arguments over match balls.

When the game started, Triangle were all over their guests but they couldn’t breach goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa who however had to be whisked to the hospital after suffering an injury.

Tatenda Makoni replaced him and the former Cranborne Bullets man brought a masterpiece into the game.

Dynamos needed a half chance to grab the match by its neck with Perezo the unlikely hero for coach Kelvin Kaindu.

Source: The Herald

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1

Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (0) 0

A SHADRECK Nyahwa goal at the start of the second half gave Dynamos a long-awaited premier league victory as they beat defending champions Simba Bhora at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.

The midfielder slotted home into an empty net after a howler by Simba Bhora's goalkeeper, William Thole, who misjudged a Nomore Chinyerere cross following a corner in the 50th minute.

Yesterday's victory was the Harare giants' second triumph over Simba Bhora this term after beating the Shamva-based team in the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup at the end of February.

It was Dynamos' first league victory in eight matches since they beat FC Platinum 2-0 at Rufaro on November 2 last year.

Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe said he was still trying to integrate the club's new players into the side but was relieved to collect his first victory in four matches.

The other three matches ended in draws.

"I'm grateful for the performance by my team," a relieved Chigowe said.

"They stuck to instructions. We knew pretty well that after beating Simba in the Challenge Cup, they would come at us. But we knew that it was key for us to be able to absorb the pressure and take our chances when they came. Indeed, we managed to get the chance and we threw the ball in the net. We suffered a little bit, but in the end, we scored and managed to collect three points."

Nyahwa's goal was the first time that a Dynamos player had scored in the league this season.

Victory moved Dynamos out of the relegation zone into sixth position on the log standings with six points from a possible 12.

This was Simba Bhora's first defeat of the season. They dropped to 12th position, although they are a point away from Dynamos.

Their coach, Joel Luphahla, who was Chigowe's assistant last season, was disappointed that he could not outsmart his mentor on the second time of asking.

"It was always going to be a difficult game coming here versus Dynamos. I felt that the boys tried their best, but Dynamos was more motivated in the sense that maybe I came from here last season, so the motivation was always there. They don't want to lose to their former coach.

"I'm very confident with the team that we have. We are still trying to find ways to finish off matches. We didn't create more today, maybe half chances, but at the end of the day, we have played four games, it's a worry, it's a concern that we have scored only one goal."

A quiet opening half saw two half-decent openings, one for each side —Frank Agyemang wriggling his way into the box but the ball tangled with his feet and he couldn't shoot, with only the keeper to beat, while Blessing Moyo's free kick from range was parried away by Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa at the other end moments before the break.

A triple substitute at the start of the second half for Simba Bhora saw them seizing control in midfield, but it was Chigowe's men who almost took the lead soon after the restart.

Leeroy Mavhunga slipped through Agyemang, but Thole came flying off his line to block the danger.

The Malawi international, however, made a mess of Dynamos's next attack.

Emmanuel Jalai found Chinyerere with a short corner, and the left-back clipped a high ball into the box with his weaker right foot.

The keeper charged off his line to try and cut off the cross, but completely missed the ball, which fell invitingly for Nyahwa to tap into an empty net.

Agyemang should have doubled the lead moments later when he was again picked inside the box by Mavhunga, but the Ghanaian side-footed his effort over the cross bar.

Simba Bhora took over control of the match afterward as they searched for a leveller, but the Dynamos' defence held firm to secure a crucial victory.

Teams

Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, E Jalai, T Magwaza, N Chinyerere, C Mandivei, S Nyahwa, F Agyemang (E Chikona, 72'), T Pio, V Ngwenya, L Mavhunga (L Gwatidzo, 82'), V Kadonzvo (R Chingwara, 77').

Simba Bhora: W Thole, C Makambira (T Meke, 46') W Tafa, I Mauchi, B Moyo, I Nyanhi (B Ndereki, 46'), B Ncube, J Makunike (T Mavhunga, 46'), E Ziocha (D Mudadi, 70'), I Gurirab, W Manondo (M Hwata 70').

SOURCE: NEWSDAY