Zimsportspen

𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝟑𝟓-𝟎𝟕 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲

By Zimsportspen

The balance of power in Zimbabwe school rugby may be shifting, and Churchill High School's 35-07 demolition of Prince Edward in their midweek derby clash has added considerable weight to that argument.

The Bulldogs were ruthless and clinical throughout, putting 35 unanswered points past a Tigers side that has long been considered one of the most formidable schools rugby programmes in the country. The margin of victory was emphatic and left little room for debate on the day, Churchill were simply a class above.

What makes the result even more significant is the context provided by recent meetings between the two sides. Prince Edward held the upper hand as recently as May 2024, beating Churchill 19-15, but the tide has turned dramatically since then. Churchill edged a tense 26-27 victory over Prince Edward in May 2025, followed by a more convincing 29-08 win in July 2025. The two sides then fought out a 24-24 draw in May 2026, suggesting the gap was closing. But this latest result, a 28-point winning margin suggests Churchill have moved to an entirely different level.

The numbers across recent encounters tell their own story. Churchill have won three of the last four meetings, with the one result they did not win being a draw. Prince Edward's last victory came over two years ago, and that narrow 19-15 win now feels like a distant memory.

For Churchill, the question is no longer whether they can compete with Prince Edward. It is whether the Tigers can find a way to stop a programme that appears to be hitting its peak at exactly the right moment in the school rugby calendar.

The change of guard may not yet be official, but the evidence on the scoreboard is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡

By Zimsportspen

Football will take centre stage at Machembere Community Centre Public Ground on 29 August 2026, but the message being delivered goes far beyond the final whistle.

Shingirirayi Youth Ministry Trust has invited local football clubs from the Highfield and Glennorah communities to participate in a Spiritual Formation and Drug Abuse Awareness Soccer Tournament, running from 08:00 to 16:00 under the theme "Fit for Purpose: Body, Mind and Spirit", drawn from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Sixteen teams from across the two communities have been confirmed for the tournament, representing a broad cross-section of youth football in the area. The participating clubs are AS Soccer Academy, Cross Power Football Club, Black Scorpion Junior FC, Masoso FC, Glennorah Academy, Glens FC, Old Highfield Youth Academy, Midza Granite Academy, Shingirirayi Youth Academy, Holly FC, PWD 1, PWD 2, PWD 3, CJ FC, Cadship Stars Youth Soccer Academy and Greater Success College.

The tournament forms part of Shingirirayi Youth Ministry Trust's broader mission to lead children and youth towards spiritual, moral and physical wellbeing through sporting activities. Established in 1989 as a street ministry of the Catholic Church and supported by the Jesuit Province of the Society of Jesus, the organisation has spent decades using sport as a tool for youth formation and community development across Zimbabwe.

Youth coordinator Svinurai Chafuka summed up the spirit of the day with a message that reflected the tournament's deeper purpose. "Your body is God's temple, not a dumping ground for drugs. Choose God, choose life, believe in Jesus as your Saviour. Say no to drugs," he said.

The event carries a straightforward but powerful rallying call for the young participants, let's play for purpose, not for pressure.

𝐙𝐑𝐔 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬

By Zimsportspen

The Zimbabwe Rugby Union has moved swiftly to address images and claims circulating on social media regarding the alleged accommodation of members of the Zimbabwe Sables, flatly denying that any players were housed at the property depicted in the posts and launching a formal investigation into the matter.

In an official statement issued by communications officer Rutendo Mpofu, ZRU stated categorically that no Sables players have been accommodated at the property shown in the circulating images, either in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup or while on official national team camp or national duty.

The union was equally clear that the property in question has no formal relationship with Zimbabwe Rugby. "The property depicted is not leased, operated or managed by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and the Union has not designated the property as official accommodation for the Sables," the statement read.

Given the serious nature of the claims and the use of imagery and references associated with the national team, ZRU said it has initiated an investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the matter, adding that it takes seriously any conduct which, following proper investigation, may be found to violate the laws of Zimbabwe.

The union urged the public and media to exercise restraint and allow facts to be established before drawing conclusions. "We therefore urge the public and media to allow the facts to be established and to avoid presenting unverified claims as fact," the statement said.

ZRU confirmed it will communicate further should additional verified information become available.

🏆 FULL TIME | VICTORY! 🇿🇼

The Junior Sables defeat Tunisia in the Barthés Trophy U20

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe 38– 12 Tunisia 🇹🇳

⚽🇿🇼Tawanda Maswanhise opens his account for the new campaign, converting from the penalty spot as Motherwell drew 1-1 with HJK Helsinki in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifier.

It was also Maswanhise’s first-ever goal in European competition.

𝐌𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

By Zimsportspen

At just 17 years old, Ropafadzo Liberty Mzondo travelled to Hayward Field in Oregon as a teenager from the Midlands Province. He left as the holder of a national record and one of the most exciting young sprinting prospects on the African continent.

Mzondo announced himself on the global stage at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in emphatic fashion, clocking a blistering 46,51 seconds in Heat 7 of the first round of the men's 400 metres to finish third and claim automatic qualification for the next round. The time did far more than book his place in the semifinals, it shattered his own previous lifetime best and established a brand-new Zimbabwean national under-20 record, a milestone that underlines just how rapidly the young sprinter is developing.

The semifinal, however, proved a step too far for the teenager's legs. Returning to the track on a relentless championship schedule against older and more experienced international athletes, Mzondo fought hard but finished sixth in his heat in 47,11 seconds, leaving him just outside the qualifying positions for the final. The dream of a global final was over, but the reputation had been firmly established.

The performance at Hayward Field places Mzondo firmly in the conversation as one of Zimbabwe's most exciting emerging track talents, following a year that has already seen Tafadzwa Chikomba make history in the long jump and Makanakaishe Charamba claiming podium finishes on the European circuit.

With years of junior eligibility still ahead of him and a national record already on the board, Ropafadzo Liberty Mzondo's journey is only just beginning.

𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐂 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐀𝐅 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩, 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬

By Zimsportspen

Scottland FC will fly the Zimbabwean flag as the country's sole representative in this season's CAF inter-club competitions, with the Ecobank-sponsored side handed their route to the CAF Champions League group stage.

The Harare-based outfit will open their continental campaign against Eswatini's Nsingizini Hotspurs in the first preliminary round, with the first leg set for 4–6 September 2026 and the return leg scheduled for 11–16 September 2026.

Should Scottland progress, they will face the winner of the tie between seeded Angolan side Petro Atletico and Mozambique's UD Songo in the second preliminary round, with legs pencilled in for 16–18 October and 23–25 October 2026 respectively.

Victory at that stage would see Scottland FC through to the lucrative mini-league phase of the competition, bringing them a step closer to the group stages of Africa's premier club competition.