Ngezi Platinum: Historic First Premiership League Champions Only Six Years After Promotion

TAWANDA CHARI

NGEZI – Ngezi Platinum Stars became the first team outside the capital Harare and the second city Bulawayo to win Zimbabwe's Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) title on Saturday. They secured their maiden trophy with a 2-1 victory over Simba Bhora at Baobab Stadium, thanks to a last-minute goal by Takunda Benhura.

Ngezi Platinum win Zimbabwe PSL 2023 title

Image: ZimLive.com

Madamburo, had a remarkable run of eight wins in their last 10 games, scoring 14 goals and conceding only five—cementing their league charge at the tail end of the season.

Ngezi coach Tonderai Chiragwi commended his players for exuding character and resilience in a tight title race.

“We have been fighting for this since the beginning of the season. We have occupied positions from one to four but eventually we managed to grab it. I would like to thank all the teams that gave us competition. It was not easy, we were not sleeping but we showed character,” Chiragwi said.

Ngezi Platinum will now represent Zimbabwe in the CAF Champions League next season, a feat that their chairman Leonard Musariri had envisioned when he appointed Chiragwi as the substantive head coach in November 2022.

While Ngezi Platinum celebrated their historic achievement, it was a sad day for Cranborne Bullets, who confirmed their relegation to the lower division of the domestic league.