Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) club Chegutu Pirates have appointed Moses Chunga as their new head coach in a bid to secure a swift return to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
This marks the first time in nearly a decade that Chunga, affectionately known as Bambo, will lead a club, as he has primarily focused on managing resources for his academy in recent years.
Chunga is a highly experienced coach, having previously won the PSL title with the now-defunct Gunners.
He has also coached prominent teams including Dynamos, CAPS United, Black Rhinos, and Shooting Stars.
Chegutu Pirates were relegated from the PSL at the end of the 2024 season, after spending just one season in the topflight league.
The club officially confirmed Chunga’s appointment as head coach in a recent statement. It said:
<blockquote>
Chegutu Pirates FC is thrilled to announce the appointment of Moses Chunga as the team’s head coach for the 2025 season.
The club warmly welcomes Chunga and is confident that his leadership will drive the team to new heights.
The club and its fans are eagerly anticipating the positive impact Chunga will have on the squad.
</blockquote>
However, Chunga faces a formidable challenge as Chegutu Pirates have recently experienced a player exodus.
Goalkeeper Sydney Mozeka and speedy winger Lewis Milanzi have both joined Bulawayo Chiefs following the appointment of Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe as head coach of the Bulawayo side.
Another Pirates goalkeeper, Tafadzwa Jabangwe, along with defenders Ruben Machaya and Rodwell Mhlanga, have signed with Kwekwe-based club Hardrock.
Promising young central defender Maxwell Manuvire has been recruited by ZPC Kariba, while defensive midfielder Reginald Ngazima has moved to Triangle.

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Chegutu Pirates, a soccer team, have chosen Moses Chunga as their new coach to try and get back to the top league. Moses Chunga is a very experienced coach and has won big titles before. Chegutu Pirates started in the top league but got relegated last year. They hope Chunga will help them get back to winning ways. Some players have left the team recently, making the challenge even harder. Fans are excited to see what changes Chunga will bring to the team.

Chegutu Pirates Appoint Moses Chunga As Head Coach

Bulawayo Chiefs and Hwange were relegated from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Saturday, November 23, and joined already relegated Arenel Movers and Chegutu, after they finished 15th and 16th on the log standings.
Bulawayo Chiefs took the lead before losing 2-1 at Manica Diamonds, while Hwange suffered a 2-0 loss against Bikita Minerals, who escaped the chop in the process.
Arenel Movers became the first team to be officially relegated from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Chegutu Pirates will make their way back to the Northern Region Soccer League after just one season in the top flight, as was Arenel Movers.
Bulawayo Chiefs were the best placed of the relegation candidates as they had destiny in their own hands at Sakubva Stadium.
They needed three points without worrying about results elsewhere and they looked on course when they took the lead off a 62nd-minute penalty by Migoz Svinurai.
However, Manica Diamonds turned the tables with two goals in two minutes.
Evans Katema equalised from the spot in the 82nd minute and the goal was timely for his former club, Bikita Minerals, who were leading against Hwange at Wadzanai Stadium.
Michael Tapera then won the game for Manica Diamonds two minutes later.
This means that the 2025 ZIFA Southern Region Soccer League will have three teams from the PSL, that is Bulawayo Chiefs, Hwange and Arenel Movers.
Bulawayo Chiefs finished the 2024 PSL season with 36 points, followed by Hwange with 35 points, Chegutu Pirates on 33 points, and Arenel Movers at the bottom with 23 points.
Meanwhile, GreenFuel beat Dynamos 2-1 to complete the season unbeaten at home in the first full season using the GreenFuel Arene in Chisumbanje.
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Bulawayo Chiefs and Hwange were sent down from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) along with Arenel Movers and Chegutu Pirates. Bulawayo Chiefs lost 2-1 and Hwange lost 2-0 in their last games. Arenel Movers were the first team to be officially relegated. Chegutu Pirates will also go back down to a lower league. The PSL will now have three new teams next season. GreenFuel finished their season unbeaten at home.

Bulawayo Chiefs, Hwange, Arenel Movers, And Chegutu Pirates Relegated From PSL

Chegutu Pirates Football Club is the most fined team in the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL), with charges that have accumulated to over US$10 000.
According to a PSL document seen by <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/chegutu-pirates-psl-fines-accumulate-to-us10-000/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>, “Zaire” was fined US$3 645 for the abandonment of their match against Dynamos at Baobab stadium on 25 April 2024.
Before the Dynamos charge, the PSL debutant was also charged US$950 for using a kit without player names and league sponsor’s logos during the match with Yadah.
Chegutu Pirates was also fined US$250 for delaying match kick-off on the day and US$1 250 for post-match comments to the media by club officials claiming the match officials were biased.
The club’s captain did not fulfil his mandate of voting for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League March monthly awards, an offence which attracted a US$250 fine for the club.
In May, Zaire was charged US$2 000 for pitch invasion by club marshalls and security during their match against Simba Bhora.
On 22 May, the club was fined US$375 after it failed to provide clean changing rooms for match officials during their match against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
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Chegutu Pirates' Premier Soccer League Fines Accumulate To US$10 000

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has charged Chegutu Pirates with violating its Rules and Regulations following the abandonment of the Castle Lager Premiership game against Dynamos on 25 April 2024.
In a statement, the PSL said Chegutu Pirates shall appear before its Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday 14 May 2024. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has summoned Chegutu Pirates FC to appear before the PSL Disciplinary Committee following the abandonment of their Castle Lager PSL match against Dynamos FC played on 25 April 2024 at Baobab Stadium.
The club stands accused of contravening the PSL rules and regulations.
According to Order 31 of the PSL Rules and Regulations, it is an act of misconduct on the part of the club where:
31.1.2 Its players, officials, servants or duly authorized (expressed or implied) representatives or supporters directly or indirectly interrupt, obstruct or disturb the normal proceedings of a game before, during or after the match;
31.1.17 Its officials cause the abandonment of a match
The disciplinary proceedings shall take place on Tuesday 14 May 2024 at the PSL offices.
</blockquote>
The match was abandoned in stoppage time after Dynamos had scored through Donald Dzvinyai to break the 0-0 deadlock
However, Chegutu Pirates players and fans disputed the goal, saying it did not cross the line. The home team’s fans then threw objects onto the pitch, forcing match officials to call off the match.
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Chegutu Pirates Charged By PSL Over Abandoned Match Against Dynamos

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has ordered Chegutu Pirates and Dynamos to submit comprehensive reports detailing the events leading up to the abandonment of their match at Baobab Stadium on Thursday.
The match was called off after Chegutu Pirates players refused to restart the game in protest over the referees’ decision to allow Dynamos’ 97th-minute goal to stand, arguing that the ball did not cross the goal line.
Chegutu Pirates fans also threw objects onto the pitch after the referee had signalled a goal for DeMbare.
Videos suggested that the Chegutu Pirates defender was behind the goal line when he headed the ball in a desperate attempt to clear their lines.
In a statement issued this Saturday, PSL Communications and Media Liason Officer Kudzai Bare, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against Chegutu Pirates. She said:
<blockquote>
The Premier Soccer League has received the official match reports regarding the abandonment of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between Chegutu Pirates FC and Dynamos FC played on Thursday 25 April 2024.
In light of this incident, we have advised both clubs to submit comprehensive reports detailing the events leading up to the abandonment before initiating disciplinary proceedings.
As an organization committed to upholding the integrity of the sport, we strongly urge all players and officials to adhere to the rules and regulations of the Premier Soccer League.
Such behaviour is essential to maintaining the spirit of competition and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all participants and spectators.
We remind all stakeholders that any violation of the PSL regulations will be met with appropriate disciplinary measures.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Chegutu Pirates vs. Dynamos match was the second PSL game to be abandoned this season after the CAPS United vs. FC Platinum game at Mandava Stadium on 6 April 2024 also ended prematurely.
The match was abandoned with only four minutes left in regulation time after CAPS United fans invaded the pitch in protest over a Ralph Kawondera “goal” had been ruled out for offside.
FC Platinum was leading 1-0 at the time the game was abandoned. The goal was scored by Juan Mutudza in the eighth minute.
The PSL then summoned CAPS United to appear before the PSL Disciplinary Committee on 23 April 2024. The outcome of the disciplinary proceedings has not been made public.
In 2022, Highlanders and Dynamos were fined by the PSL Disciplinary Committee due to incidents of violence and hooliganism during their league match between the two clubs at Barbourfields Stadium in May of that year.
Dynamos FC, who were the home team, were fined $7,500, while Highlanders FC was fined $5,000. The match was awarded to Highlanders on a 3-0 scoreline.
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PSL Orders Chegutu Pirates And Dynamos To Submit Reports On Abandoned Match

The match between Chegutu Pirates versus Dynamos on Thursday, 25 April, became the second to be abandoned in the current Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season due to crowd trouble at the Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro.
Chegutu Pirates fans hurled objects onto the pitch during stoppage time, protesting a DeMbare goal by Donald Dzvinya arguing the ball did not cross the line.
However, videos suggested that their Chegutu Pirates defender was behind the goal line when he headed the ball in a desperate attempt to clear their lines.
Match commissioner Brighton Mudzamiri confirmed the match was called off because of the refusal by Chegutu Pirates to restart the game after DeMbare had scored the winner in the 97th minute. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/dembare-pirates-match-abandoned/">Said Mudzamiri</a>:
<blockquote>
The match could not go ahead as you all saw that the other team refused to restart after conceding a goal. There was nothing more the referees could do. So it’s abandoned.
</blockquote>
Chegutu Pirates coach Emmanuel Day Gutu claimed that the assistant referee, who advised the referee that the ball had crossed the goalline, was influenced to make his decision by a photographer. He said (<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/sport/article/200026105/another-psl-match-abandoned">via NewsDay</a>):
<blockquote>
It’s a pity the game had to be decided this way. But we gave a good account of ourselves, they had their moments and we had our moments.
About the goal, I am not sure. The assistant referee was better positioned. When we asked the referee, he too was not sure whether the ball had crossed the line.
The ball was in the air, so it was very difficult to see whether it crossed the line [or not]. The referee wasn’t sure and went and consulted the assistant referee, but the assistant referee’s decision was influenced by the photographer. So we are not sure and even myself I am not sure whether it crossed the line.
I am happy with the performance. First half we were jittery, but second half we were a bit more composed. We now know how to play with bigger clubs.
We learnt our lesson against Highlanders, it’s a work in progress, but I am happy with the performance.
</blockquote>
The Glamour Boys are likely to win the match in the boardroom as video evidence appears to be in their favour. 
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