Zimbabwe league kicks-off: Eyes on Scottland FC

Zimbabwe’s elite league kicks off on Friday, March 6, 2026, setting in motion three days of eight matches featuring former English Premier League and South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) stars on and off the pitch.

The opening Castle Lager PSL fixture on Friday features Hunters FC versus MWOS setting the tone for more action on Saturday and Sunday.

Pre-Season Tour: Botswana
Day 1 Recap pic.twitter.com/XxuknnRI5g

— Highlanders F.C (@HighlanderBosso) February 27, 2026

The wait is over!
Here are the opening fixtures for the 2026 Castle Lager PSL season pic.twitter.com/KwRrZ33kav

— Castle Lager PSL ZW (@CastleLagerPSL) March 2, 2026

Defending champions Scottland FC start life under new coach Norman Mapeza on the road to face Hardrock FC at Chahwanda Stadium this Sunday. The holders have also roped in Premier League legend Peter Ndlovu as team manager after luring him from Mamelodi Sundowns.

This would be the first-ever Castle PSL fixture between the two teams since the hosts are making their debut into the elite league. In a statement, Hardrock FC have since urged their supporters to witness what they call a historical match with the holders.

“The fixture marks a landmark occasion for the green, gold and white outfit as they step onto home soil and look to make an immediate statement in the league. Chahwanda Stadium is expected to draw a passionate crowd, with the club eager to secure an opening-day victory and lay a strong foundation for the campaign ahead,” reads the statement.

“Scottland FC arrive as a determined opponent, aware that an away win on Match Day 1 would send an early signal to the rest of the league. With both sides hungry to hit the ground running, supporters can expect a fiercely contested ninety minutes. Football fans across the region are encouraged to come out in numbers and back Hardrock FC from the first whistle.”

Work cut out for Mapeza to match Ndiraya’s feat at Scottland

Mapeza, the former FC Platinum mentor, has a lot to prove as he replaced Tonderai Ndiraya who steered the team to its first-ever Castle Lager PSL title in its maiden season. The defending champions have an array of stars to look out for, including former Kaizer Chiefs stars Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona.

Other teams to look out for are sleeping giants such as CAPS United who invaded the market to sign top players such as experienced Malawian midfielder Llyod Njaliwa from Costa do Sol in Mozambique and his compatriot striker Chawanangwa Kaonga from ZANACO FC in Zambia.

Deposed champions Simba Bhora FC and FC Platinum are the other teams to look out for and so are Chicken Inn FC whose new mentor Ndiraya surely has a thing or two to prove.

The award-winning tactician must have felt aggrieved to be sacked at Scottland FC despite leading them to the Castle Lager PSL, a feat he achieved with Simba Bhora in the 2024 season.

Can Benjani Mwaruwari deliver for Highlanders FC?

Elsewhere, former champions FC Dynamos have also made a number of reinforcements including signing talented attacker Stanley Billiat from Malawi’s Ekhaya FC. However, DeMbare’s 5-0 loss to Scottland in a pre-season Castle Challenge Cup has sent alarm bells ringing.

On the coaching front, former Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari is eager to get his stagnant coaching career going at Highlanders FC. The former Portsmouth FC man is yet to prove himself in the dugout with his earlier coaching stint at Ngezi Platinum FC ending in disappointment in 2022 when he was sacked just 22 weeks in charge.

Castle Lager PSL fixtures

All games kick-off at 3pm Southern African Time

Friday, March 6 2026

Hunters FC v MWOS FC at Rufaro Stadium

Saturday, March 7 2026

Herentals College FC v Chicken Inn FC at Rufaro Stadium

Ngezi Platinum v FC Platinum at Baobab Stadium

Triangle FC v ZPC Kariba FC at Gibbo Stadium

TeleOne FC v FC Dynamos at ASCOT Stadium

Sunday March 8 2026

CAPS United v Agama FC at Rufaro Stadium

Manica Diamond v Simba Bhora at Gibbo Stadium

Scottland v HardRock FC at Chawhanda Stadium