Zimbabwe FA rejects plan to bloat PSL

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has rejected the country’s league governing body’s decision to bloat its flagship Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) from 18 to 20 teams effective 2026.

In a statement dated November 19, 2025, the association challenged the Zimbabwe Premier League’s (ZPL) decision arrived at its recent Extraordinary General Meeting.

“The association 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 integrity, fairness and sporting merit of the league system,” reads the statement.

“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 23 November 2025.”

The association has since advised the ZPL to formally present a proposal for the league’s expansion for consideration at its Annual General Meeting.

Ironically, ZPL released a statement on November 18, 2025 saying it arrived at the decision to expand the PSL on ZIFA’s recommendation.

How the decision to increase the Zimbabwe league backfired

The statement added that ZIFA’s ultimate aim was to establish a National First Division League, hence there would be no PSL relegation at the end of this season.

“The PSL resolved to suspend relegation for the 2025 season. The league will accommodate the newly promoted teams, resulting in an expanded league of twenty-two teams for a transitional period during the 2026 season,” reads ZPL’s statement.

“After the conclusion of the 2026 season, the league will revert to the proposed twenty teams format beginning in the 2027 season.

“In addition, the PSL proposed a phased approach to the implementation of the National First Division League with the possibilities of it being fully operational within the next three years.”

The decision to suspend relegation of teams this season seemed to hand a lifeline to the bottom-four—Bikita Minerals (15th place), Green Fuel FC (16th), Yadah FC (17) and bottom-placed Kwekwe United. However, ZIFA’s stance means doom for the bottom-four.

At the end of every season, four regional league champions earn PSL promotion, replacing the relegated top-flight sides. On the upper end of the table, Scottland FC will be crowned as champions on Sunday.

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