Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League | |
Pixels: | 163px |
Country: | (18 teams) |
Confed: | CAF |
Teams: | 18 |
Relegation: | Zimbabwean Division One |
Levels: | 1 |
Domest Cup: | Chibuku Super Cup |
Confed Cup: | Champions League Confederation Cup |
Champions: | Ngezi Platinum (2nd title) |
Season: | 2023 |
Most Successful Club: | Dynamos (21 titles)[1] |
Tv: | ZTN (live matches) |
Current: | 2024 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League |
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League is the top professional division of the Zimbabwe Football Association. It was founded in 1980, as a successor to the 1962 formed Rhodesia National Football League. It is currently sponsored by Delta Beverages under the Castle Lager brand and hence is known as Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. The current sponsorship deal runs from 2011 and is worth $3.6 million.[2]
The league consists of 18 teams listed below, that play a total of 34 matches. The season runs from April to November. Most matches are played during weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. Postponed matches are played midweek. At the end of the season four teams are relegated into the lower division and an equal number promoted.[3] [4]
The end of season winner qualifies for the CAF Champions League, while the Cup of Zimbabwe winners gains entry into the CAF Confederation Cup, though clubs from the league do not always participate if they qualify. The current champions are Ngezi Platinum who won the 2023 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black Rhinos | Harare | Morris Depot Police Camp | 5,000 | |
Bulawayo Chiefs | Bulawayo | Luveve Stadium | 8,000 | |
Bulawayo City | Bulawayo | Barbourfields Stadium | 40,000 | |
CAPS United | Harare | National Sports Stadium (Zimbabwe) | 80,000 | |
Chicken Inn | Bulawayo | Luveve Stadium | 8,000 | |
Cranborne Bullets | Harare | Luveve Stadium | 8,000 | |
Dynamos | Harare | Rufaro Stadium | 60,000 | |
Platinum | Zvishavane | Mandava Stadium | 15,000 | |
Harare City | Harare | Rufaro Stadium | 60,000 | |
Herentals F.C. | Harare | National Sports Stadium (Zimbabwe) | 80,000 | |
Highlanders | Bulawayo | Barbourfields Stadium | 40,000 | |
Manica Diamonds | Mutare | Sakubva Stadium | 20,000 | |
Ngezi Platinum Stars | Mhondoro | Baobab Stadium | 1,000 | |
Tenax CS | Mutare | Sakubva Stadium | 20,000 | |
Triangle United | Chiredzi | Gibbo Stadium | 3,000 | |
Wha Wha | Gweru | Ascot Stadium | 5,000 | |
Yadah | Harare | National Sports Stadium (Zimbabwe) | 80,000 | |
ZPC Kariba | Kariba | Nyamhunga Stadium | 5,000 |
See main article: List of Rhodesian and Zimbabwean football champions.
Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | 23 | |||
1999–00 | 24 | |||
2000 | 16 | |||
2001 | 19 | |||
2002 | 21 | |||
2003 | 17 | |||
2004 | 18 | |||
2005 | 17 | |||
2006 | 19 | |||
2007 | 15 | |||
2008 | 23 | |||
2009 | 21 | |||
2010 | 22 | |||
2011 | 14 | |||
2012 | 18 | |||
2013 | 18 | |||
2015 | 14 | |||
2016 | 11 | |||
2017 | Mukhoshi Sibanda | 7 | ||
2022 | William Manondo | CAPS United | 17 |
From 2011, the Premier Soccer League has had title sponsorship rights sold to Delta Beverages, who sponsor the league under their Castle Lager brand. The deal runs until 2018. Originally a lower income level, in 2014 Delta Beverages upped their sponsorship to $3.6 million.[2]
Before, the Premier Soccer League has a television deal with SuperSport who broadcast matches regularly across Africa.[5]
In 2021, the league signed a deal with ZTN (Zimpapers Television Network) to air live Castle Lager PSL and Chibuku Super Cup matches.[6] ZTN Prime,[7] their newest free-to-air television network will air the matches and their social media platforms as well.
On Youtube and Facebook, The May 15, 2022's match of Highlanders F.C. versus Dynamos Harare F.C. garnered 50,000 viewers as the highest-viewed PSL match on the social media platforms.