After missing out on promotion to Zimbabwe’s elite league last season, a former Orlando Pirates striker appears to be leaving on borrowed time at a first division club.
Yearly, four teams are promoted to Zimbabwe’s Premier League from the four regional first division leagues.
After the 2021/22 season, Simba Bhora, Green Fuel, Sheasham and Hwange were promoted.
They won the respective championships in the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern region.
WHAT GILBERT MUSHANGAZHIKE FACES
In the Northern region, former Pirates marksman Gilbert Mushangazhike blew what looked like Golden Eagles’ season to win the promotion ticket.
Mushangazhike took over the club from Joel Lupahla in April at a time they had a realistic chance but he failed to sustain the challenge.
This season, Golden Eagles are the favorites although they will likely get stiff competition from Herentals Under 20 who finished the season on third position.
Naturally he falls under spotlight, if he can stirr the team to the elite league.
However what gives Mushangazhike confidence is how they finished last season.
The Harare-based club beat Simba Bhora to win the Axis Solution Super 8 Cup.
“Last season is in the past. We learnt our lesson. We moved on and we are now looking forward, with the same objective which is success at all levels,” Mushangazhike.
In a way the Axis Solution Super 8 Cup win was a sweet revenge for them as they atoned for missing out on promotion to the PSL.
UPDATE ON CUTHBERT MALAJILA’S ACADEMY
Meanwhile Cuthbert Malajila’s academy, CUMA, looks set to be playing in the second division.
CUMA academy was relegated from the Northern region division one league at the end of last season.
Malajila recently told FARPost that he is looking forward to get a franchise back into the first division.
However it appears his efforts hit a snag, with two week remaining before the lower leagues roar into life on 1 April.
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