By Rex Mphisa
ZIMBABWE’S soccer governing body has rubbished the Premier Soccer League’s resolution not to relegate any teams this season but increase the number to 22 from 18.
In a statement the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) said four teams will be relegated at the end of the 2025 season.
ZIFA said PSL’s decision cannot be implemented because promotion and relegation are fundamental components of football competition and are essential to maintaining the integrity, fairness and sporting merit of the league systems.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to advise the football community, stake-holders, media partners and the nation regarding the promotion and relegation framework for the 2025 Castle Premier Soccer League (PSL) season,” ZIFA said in a communication from its media department.
“ZIFA has taken note of communication from the Premier Soccer League dated 18 November 2025, indicating a resolution from its Extraordinary General Meeting proposing that no teams be relegated at the end of the current season and that the league’s membership be expanded to 22 clubs.”
ZIFA said it wishes to make it unequivocally clear that this proposal cannot be implemented.
Promotion and relegation are fundamental components of football competition and are essential to maintaining the integrity, fairness and sporting merit of the league system, it said.
“ZIFA therefore confirms that four (4) clubs will be relegated at the conclusion of the 2025 Castle Premier Soccer League season, which officially ends on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
It said the premier league or any other body wanted to propose adjustments, such a request must be formally be submitted to ZIFA.
“Should the Premier Soccer League or any other member wish to propose an adjustment to the number of participating teams, or propose any other resolution, such a request must be formally submitted to the Association,” said ZIFA.
It said such a proposal would then be tabled at the next ZIFAcongress.
Many Zimbabweans have viewed the PSL proposal as a rescue plan for Dynamos and Highlanders community teams that struggled during the season and remain threatened by relegation.
The country’s two clubs with the biggest following have been plagued by financial problems while new comers mostly individually owned splash cashs and attracting players from across the world.
Highlanders FC was formed in 1926 by Albert and Rhodes Khumalo.
The club was originally known as Lions Football Club before being renamed Matabeleland Highlanders Football Club in 1936.
The “Matabeleland” prefix was dropped in 1975, and it became known simply as Highlanders FC.
Dynamos Football Club, otherwise known as Chazunguza, Seven Million, or DeMbare was formed in 1963.
It was founded by Sam Dauya, inspired by the creation of an all-white club the previous year, to create a team for black players in Salisbury (now Harare).
The team was created through the merger of two smaller clubs, Salisbury City and Salisbury United.
Sam Dauya wrote the club’s constitution and designed its emblem.
In its first year, the new team won the national championship.
The two clubs, despite their dip in form, and nagging financial problems, remain famous with both commanding monumental support.
Both have produced icons in football, the likeks pf the late George Shaya, Moses Chunga, the late midfield maestro Archieford Chimutand and living legend Sunday Chidzambwa for Dynamos.
Highlanders have another living legend in Peter Ndlovu, the first African to feature in the English Premier League.
His brothers Adam and Madinda all played for the Reinard Fabish coached dream team.
Bruce Grobelaar who turned out for Liverpool is another fine Highlanders product.