The Sunday Mail
HARARE CITY yesterday confirmed that they will be taking over the slot left by the disbanding How Mine in the Premier Soccer League while past league winners Dynamos, Caps United, Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and Caps United are pulling all the stops ahead of this year’s campaign.
As the 2018 edges closer, The Sunday Mail runs the ruler on all the 18 top flight teams. Come along ….
Bulawayo City
Nickname: Amakhosi
Coach: Darlington Dodo
Established: 2006
League Titles: 0
2017 position: 14
2018 target: Bulawayo City have acquired 13 players as they bid to avoid the relegation dogfight which saw them surviving on the last day last season.
“We want to be a competitive team and do not want to be involved in the relegation equation at all,” said Dodo.
Admire Dzumbunu, Lucky Nyathi, Timothy January, Eric Mudzingwa, Trust Nyabinde, Tatenda Tavengwa, Ayanda Ncube, Justin Kaunda, Wellington Muuya, Tawanda Muyendi, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Tawanda Chagaresango and Tendai Ndoro’s twin brother Takudzwa (keeper) are the new boys at Amakhosi.
Man to watch: Lucky Nyathi (forward)
Chicken Inn
Nickname: Gamecocks
Coach: Joey “Mafero” Antipas
Established: 2005
League Titles: 1
2017 position: 4
2018 target: Returning coach Joey Antipas is an experienced hand, a renowned fighter who can make something out of average players.
Chicken Inn retained the bulk of the squad that did duty last season under Rahman Gumbo and Antipas is confident the Gamecocks can reclaim the league title.
“Preseason is going on well, lots of hard work but I think we can play well and challenge (for the title),” said Antipas.
Man to watch: Clement Matawu
Dynamos
Nickname: DeMbare
Coach: Lloyd Mutasa
Established: 1963
League Titles: 22
2017 position: 2
2018 target: Typical of Dynamos, their boat was rocked by a weeklong industrial action by senior players but normalcy appears to have returned to their camp.
The emergence of teenage midfielder Kudzanai Dhemere has also been a refreshing chapter at DeMbare who are targeting nothing less than the title this year.
“I think we are in a better position to do better than last year. Mind you, DeMbare are a big institution that challenges for the league championship every season,” Mutasa said.
Man to watch: Kudzanai Dhemere (Midfielder)
FC Platinum
Nickname: Pure Platinum Play
Coach: Norman Mapeza
Established: 1995
League Titles: 1
2017 position: Champions
2018 target: FC Platinum chairman Evans Mtombeni made it clear his executive expects nothing less than the league title after the team suffered the disappointment of crashing out of the Caf Champions League at the preliminary stage last month.
Norman Mapeza has by far the best assembled squad in the league having added Rahman Kutsanzira, Never Tigere, Jameson Mukombwe, Kelvin Madzongwe, Farai Mupasiri and foreigners Albert Eonde of Cameroon and Shadreck Mayembe from Zambia.
Man to watch: Never Tigere (attacking linkman)
Herentals
Nickname: Herere
Established: 2009
League Titles: 0
2017 position: Northern Region champions
2018 target: They decided against overhauling their machine ahead of their maiden Premiership campaign because coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva and his technical staff are confident “Herere” have nothing much to learn in the top flight.
“We have noted that there is nothing much different between our team and other teams that have been playing in the Premiership before us.
“Herentals will put up a big fight and as a team we do not want to be found near the relegation zone,” said Mutiwekuziva.
It has been confirmed that 45-year-old club owner Innocent “IB 9” Benza will be registered as a player.
Man to watch: Blessing Majarira (striker)
Mutare City
Nickname: Gusha Bhora
Coach: Joseph “Shabba”Takaringofa
Established: 2006
Premier League Titles: 0
2017 position: Eastern Region champions
2018 target: After capturing the experienced duo of Washington Pakamisa and Temba Ndlovu, Mutare City coach Takaringofa is confident his side will survive relegation.
Gusha Bhora are also on the verge of signing Congolese forward Tshimpapa Babadi, a refugee from Tongogara Camp whose amazing story was broken by The Sunday Mail early this year.
“We have a mandate to preserve PSL football in Mutare and I think we have built a team that can compete,” said Takaringofa.
Man to watch: Isa Sadiki (midfielder)
Nichruit
Nickname: Mushonga Unouraya Ipapo Ipapo
Coach: John Nyikadzino
Established: 2014
League Titles: 0
2017 position: Central Region champions
2018 target: Nichruit coach John Nyikadzino has kept faith in the bulk of the players that did duty for the Shurugwi side in Division One last season and the former Chapungu mentor says his target is “just to avoid relegation.”
Man to watch: Nigel Mupinduki (link-cum-striker)
Shabanie Mine
Nickname: Chinda Boys
Coach: Takesure “Deco” Chiragwi
Established: 1914
Premier League Titles: 0
2017 position: 12
2018 target: Over 15 players deserted the cash strapped Zvishavane side, including their best player Farai Mupasiri who is now at rivals FC Platinum.
It looks like the Chinda Boys might fight relegation again but Chiragwi is defiant.
“We do not have an ambitious target but we do not want to fight relegation like we did last season. We might have lost a number of players but I think the unheralded youngsters that we brought from across the nation will be able to hold their own,” he said.
Man to watch: It will be a team effort
Triangle
Nickname: Sugar Boys
Coach: Taurai Mangwiro
Established: 1972
Premier League Titles: 0
2017 position: 9
2018 target: A silent revolution has been happening in the Lowveld and Taurai Mangwiro is convinced he now has a formidable side that can do better than last season’s ninth position.
Prodigal son Pascal Manhanga has returned, speed merchant Phineas Bamusi has joined from Caps United and so has exciting winger Delic Murimba who moved from relegated Hwange.
Former Tsholotsho keeper Marion Chang and veteran defender Arnold Chiveya are also at Triangle.
“We hope to do better than last season when we amassed 45 points and finished ninth. We want to challenge for accolades, provide players for the national team and the soccer stars calendar,” said Mangwiro.
Man to watch: Delic Murimba (forward)
Black Rhinos FC
Nick Name: Chauya Chipembere
Coach: Herbert Maruwa
Established: 1982
Premier League titles: 2
2017 Position: 7
2018 target: Black Rhinos will seek to bounce back from their disastrous end to the 2017 season where they managed a total of nine points in 17 matches. Herbert Maruwa a former Dynamos junior’s coach has brought in a number of youngsters to the club in a bid to revive the team.
“We have brought in number of youngsters that will blend with the experience that we already have but our main target is to come up with a team that will compete with the big guns while at the same time we want consistency from the players,” said Maruwa.
Man to watch: Wellington Taderera (Forward)
Caps United
Nick Name: Makepekepe
Coach: Lloyd “Papa” Chitembwe
Established: 1973
League titles: 5
2017 Position: 5
2018 target: It’s no secret the Caps United family are expecting another walk to the podium having finished strongly last year.
Chitembwe has added some more steel into an already compact side with the return of veteran Method Mwanjali and defensive linkman Dominic Mukandi.
Wisdom Mutasa and Praise Tonha are also at the Green Machine.
Man to watch: John Zhuwao (Striker)
Highlanders
Nick Name: Bosso
Coach: Madinda Ndlovu
Established: 1926
League titles: 7
Position last year: 6
2018 target: Madinda has been credited with assembling formidable squads in the past and 2018 looks to be no different as the Bosso legend has embarked on a “resuscitation exercise.”
“What we are working on is a three-year project and as for the targets we do not have anything like that but if anything comes along the way we will take it,” Madinda Ndlovu
Man to watch: Nigel Makombe (forward)
ZPC Kariba
Nickname: Kauya Katuruturu
Coach: Godfrey Tamirepi
Established: 1978
Premier League titles: 0
2017 Position: 10
2018 target: ZPC Kariba have been doing their business silently during the off-season but new coach Godfrey Tamirepi is publicly demanding results from his charges.
“As a team we want to play entertaining, result oriented football which will see us finishing in a very much respectable position,” said Tamirepi
Man to watch: Ian Nekati (Defender)
Ngezi Platinum FC
Nickname: Madamburo
Coach: Tonderayi Ndiraya
Established: 2004
League titles: 0
2017 Position: 3
2018 target: Ngezi Platinum have been one of the most active teams on the transfer market acquiring some of the best players in the land.
“Last year our target was a top four finish, and we achieved it so there is no reason for us not to go for the big one,” said gaffer Ndiraya.
“I believe it is possible to get the big one because we have an improved squad though we still need to beef up some areas.”
Former Dynamos defensive linkman Tichaona Chipunza, goalkeepers Donovan Bernard and Tatenda Munditi are some of the players now based at the Baobab.
Ndiraya also brought in Ghanaian international striker Steve Owusu.
Man to watch: Steve Owusu (striker)
Bulawayo Chiefs
Nickname: Amakhosi Amahle
Coach: Guthrie Chipuka
Established: 2012
Premier League titles: 0
2017 Position: Southern Region Champions
2018 target: The newly promoted side has not made any major buys due to a tight budget but Amakhosi Amahle have declared that they are not in the Premiership to add numbers.
“We are a small team in every respect and nonentities so we are not over ambitious, we are coming into the league to enjoy football but surely we are not going to be relegated,” said coach Guthrie Chipuka.
Man to watch: Arthur Musiiwa (attacking midfielder)
Yadah FC
Nickname: Miracle Boys
Coach: Thomas Ruzive
Established: 2013
Premier League titles: 0
2017 Position: 13
2018 target: Uncertainty hung over the continued existence of the club at the start of the year after owner Prophet Walter Magaya hinted he could pull out.
However, normalcy seems to have returned to the club that is now home to Cliff Sekete and Ralph Matema.
“Our target is to do better than what we did last year. A top eight finish can be possible looking at some of the experienced players that have joined us during the off-season,” said Ruzive.
Man to watch: Walter Magaya (His decision making will be key. Magaya tends to be emotional and has a habit of interfering with team selection.)
Chapungu
Nickname: Waru-waru
Coach: Tendai Chikuni
Established: 1984
Premier League titles: 0
2017 position: 11
2018 target: After finishing 11th last season Chapungu are hoping to improve on the log standings as they continue with the junior policy project they started last year.
“If you look at the previous seasons apart from 2017, the team has always been fighting relegation.
Last season we started a project in which we are incorporating juniors into the team and the results where there for everyone to see. We will continue on the same path,” said Chikuni.
Man to watch: Ibadi Saidi (midfielder)
Harare City
Nickname: Sunshine Boys
Coach: Mark “Palm Tree” Harrison
Established: 1989
League Titles: 0
2017 position: 15 (relegated)
2018 target: After getting a rare chance to return to the PSL following How Mine’s pullout, Harare City will not want to spurn this opportunity.
The Sunshine Boys, who lost keeper Tatenda Munditi and Kuda Kumwala, managed to retain skipper Tendai Samanja and William Manondo.
They also added former Caps United captain Moses Muchenje to their squad.
