Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League

Last updated

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.jpg
Founded1980;45 years ago (1980)
CountryFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe (18 teams)
Confederation CAF
Number of clubs18
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to Zimbabwean Division One
Domestic cup(s) Chibuku Super Cup
International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions Simba Bhora (1st title)
(2024)
Most championships Dynamos
(21 titles) [1]
Broadcaster(s)ZTN (live matches)
Current: 2025 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League is the top professional division of the Zimbabwe Football Association. It was founded in 1980, as a successor to the 1962 formed Rhodesia National Football League. It is currently sponsored by Delta Beverages under the Castle Lager brand and hence is known as Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. The current sponsorship deal runs from 2011 and is worth $3.6 million. [2]

Contents

The league consists of 18 teams listed below, that play a total of 34 matches. The season runs from April to November. Most matches are played during weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. Postponed matches are played midweek. At the end of the season four teams are relegated into the lower division and an equal number promoted. [3] [4]

The end of season winner qualifies for the CAF Champions League, while the Cup of Zimbabwe winners gains entry into the CAF Confederation Cup, though clubs from the league do not always participate if they qualify. The current champions are Simba Bhora who won the 2024 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.

Overview

Locations

Previous winners

Top goalscorers

YearBest scorersTeamGoals
1996 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Alois Bunjira CAPS United 23
1999–2000 Flag of Zambia.svg Chewe Mulenga Railstars 24
2000 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Thomas Makwasha Shabanie 16
2001 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Tapfuma Gahadzikwa CAPS United 19
2002 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zenzo Moyo Highlanders 21
2003 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Sageby Sandaka Amazulu 17
2004 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Leonard Tsipa CAPS United 18
2005 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Edmore Mufema Motor Action 17
2006 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Ralph Matema Highlanders 19
2007 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Cuthbert Malajila Chapungu United 15
2008 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Evans Chikwaikwai Njube Sundowns 23
2009 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Nyasha Mushekwi CAPS United 21
2010 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Norman Maroto Gunners 22
2011 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Rodreck Mutuma Dynamos 14
2012 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Nelson Mazivisa Shabanie Mine 18
2013 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Tendai Ndoro Chicken Inn 18
2015 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Knox Mutizwa Highlanders 14
2016 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Leonard Tsipa CAPS United 11
2017 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Mukhoshi Sibanda Bantu Rovers 7
2021–22 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg William Manondo CAPS United 17
2023 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Fortune Binzi Manica Diamonds 8
2024 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Lynoth Chikuhwa Highlanders 17

Sponsorship

From 2011, the Premier Soccer League has had title sponsorship rights sold to Delta Beverages, who sponsor the league under their Castle Lager brand. The deal has been extended until 2026. [5] Originally a lower income level, in 2014 Delta Beverages upped their sponsorship to $3.6 million. [2]

PeriodSponsorName
2011–Delta Beverages, Castle Lager Castle Lager Premier Soccer League

Media coverage

Previously, the Premier Soccer League had a television deal with SuperSport who broadcast matches regularly across Africa. [6]

In 2021, the league signed a deal with ZTN (Zimpapers Television Network) to air live Castle Lager PSL and Chibuku Super Cup matches. [7] ZTN Prime, [8] their newest free-to-air television network will air the matches and their social media platforms as well.

Lack of goalscoring

As of end of the 2024 season, in the eleven seasons since 2012, when champions Dynamos scored 58 goals in a 30-game season, only three teams have scored more than 50 goals, in spite of the season length being increased to 34 games. This relative lack of goalscoring has been attributed to poor pitch quality, a defensive coaching attitude, and a lack of resources and data-driven training [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Zimbabwe (And Rhodesia) Champions". Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 "$3,6m for Castle Lager PSL". News Day. 27 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "FootballZone.co.zw – 2012 PSL League table". FootballZone. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "Fifa.com – Zimbabwe:- League table". Fifa. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
  5. ↑ Staff Reporter (23 February 2024). "Delta, PSL marriage continues; new three year US$3.3m sponsorship deal". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Zimbabwe - Premier Soccer League". LiveSoccerTV. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "PSL, ZTN in game changing deal". The Herald. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Herald, The. "Joy as ZTN Prime goes live on DStv". The Herald. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Why aren't Zimbabwean football clubs scoring enough goals?". The Zimbabwe Sphere. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
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