Zimbabwe will play host to one of Africa’s most promising youth football events, the CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) Cup, scheduled for 8–18 December 2025.

Preparations for the prestigious competition are already underway following a high level planning meeting held today at the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Headquarters in Harare, attended by COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes and Deputy Director Francis Makonese.

The visit marked a crucial step in Zimbabwe’s readiness to deliver the tournament, which is designed to promote talent development and gender inclusion in African football.

ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi expressed confidence that the nation will stage a world class event that goes beyond sport, celebrating the power and potential of young African girls.

“We are honoured by CAF’s trust and COSAFA’s partnership. The GIFT Cup is more than a tournament, it is an investment in the dreams of young African girls,” said Magwizi.

The GIFT Cup, introduced by CAF in 2024, is an annual competition for U17 girls’ clubs and academies across the continent. It serves as a key part of CAF’s women’s football development agenda, providing a platform for young players to gain international exposure and experience.

This year’s edition will mark the first time the GIFT Cup is hosted in the COSAFA region, a milestone that underscores Southern Africa’s growing influence in women’s football.

COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes praised Zimbabwe’s commitment to women’s football and said the tournament would leave a lasting legacy.

“Hosting this event shows Zimbabwe’s growing leadership in developing women’s football. Beyond competition, the GIFT Cup will inspire young girls, coaches, and communities to believe in their dreams,” she said.

ZIFA officials are expected to unveil the host venues, match schedule, and participating academies in the coming weeks. The tournament will bring together some of Africa’s most talented young female players, offering scouts, coaches, and fans a glimpse into the future of the women’s game on the continent.

As Zimbabwe continues to rebuild and strengthen its football structures, hosting the CAF U17 GIFT Cup represents a major opportunity to showcase the country’s capacity to stage international tournaments and to further promote the empowerment of girls through sport.

The Zimbabwe football community is mourning the death of former national team defender Charles Sibanda, popularly known as “Raw Meat.”

Sibanda, who earned 44 caps for the national team, was part of the celebrated CAPS United side that won the club’s first top flight league title in 1979. Renowned for his tough tackling and versatility, Sibanda became a household name during the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing alongside legends such as Sunday Chidzambwa, Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Shacky Tauro, Joel Shambo, and Graham Boyle.

His professional career began in 1971 with Castle Lions Under 16, later known as Salisbury Sables. He went on to play for Hippo Valley FC between 1976 and 1978, where he also served in an administrative capacity, a role that marked the beginning of his long involvement in football both on and off the pitch.

In 1979, Sibanda joined CAPS United, helping the Green Machine to a historic league triumph and four consecutive ZIFA Cup victories between 1980 and 1983, a record still unmatched in Zimbabwean football. His uncompromising style of play earned him the nickname “Raw Meat,” making him a fan favourite across the country.

After retiring from active football, Sibanda moved into coaching and football administration. He worked with clubs such as Archer Stars and Eagles FC in Bulawayo, where he mentored several young players, including the late dribbling wizard Boy Ndlovu. His coaching career later took him to Botswana, where he enjoyed successful stints with Tafic Stars and Gaborone United, before returning home to guide Arcadia United and Air Zimbabwe Jets.

During his time at Air Zimbabwe Jets, Sibanda famously discovered and signed Benjani Mwaruwari from the University of Zimbabwe FC, a move that paved the way for one of the country’s most successful football exports.

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) expressed condolences to the Sibanda family, his former teammates, and the wider football fraternity.

“Charles ‘Raw Meat’ Sibanda’s contribution to Zimbabwean football, both as a player and as a mentor, will forever be etched in our history. His legacy lives on in the countless players and administrators he inspired,” said the ZIFA Executive Committee, led by President Nqobile Magwizi.

Funeral arrangements were yet to be announced at the time of publication.

The football rivalry between Harare giants CAPS United and Dynamos has taken a dramatic twist, not on the pitch this time, but through words that sting with the weight of relegation pressure.

In a cheeky yet calculated statement released under the banner “CAPS United Loading News,” Makepekepe have fired a “brotherly reminder” to their cross-town cousins, Dynamos FC, urging them to brace for a possible fall from grace as the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season enters its tense final stretch.

“Dear Cousin Dynamos FC,” the message begins, polite enough, but what follows is a masterclass in witty football banter layered with the sharp truth of league survival.

“Thank you for the advice you gave us a few weeks ago when we decided to drop points and wait for you in the relegation zone anyway. I hope I find you well,” reads part of the statement.

The green half of Harare, who recently pulled off crucial back to back wins against defending champions Simba Bhora and Manica Diamonds, claim they have learned from Dynamos’ earlier taunts, and are now watching their city rivals sink into “the same waters they once mocked.”

“Just like you, we are that one sensible relative at a family barbecue who gently says, ‘Bro, you’re about to put raw chicken on the same plate as the potato salad.’ I’m reminding you for your own good,” continues the statement.

Makepekepe didn’t hold back from quoting PSL Chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa’s recent warning that “if you go down, nobody’s coming to save you.”

The statement continues: “People have always said ‘Dembare ndeyeropa hakuna kwainoenda,’ but the PSL Chairman clearly stated that no extra teams, no divine intervention, not even a last minute reprieve from a referee who suddenly remembers he has a soul. It’s straight from the PSL to Division One.”

The CAPS United message paints a vivid and biting picture of life in Division One, describing dusty pitches, leaning goalposts, and players changing kits under trees while dodging baboons.

“Is that really the legacy you want?” the letter jabs. “Trading your storied name for a life where the biggest sponsorship deal is a local spaza shop offering free sadza for a shoutout?”

CAPS United, once in danger of relegation themselves, have clawed their way up the table with renewed fight, leaving Dynamos trailing by four points.

“We are almost safe now and please take a leaf from us. Remember you have dropped again into the murky waters of relegation,” the message continues. “Meanwhile, we listened to your advice and won our last two matches… We just need one more win to safely secure the 2026 PSL ticket.”

In true derby spirit, the letter closes with a stinging warning to Dynamos, one part humour, one part prophecy.

“Relegation itself isn’t gossip for Dynamos. It’s knocking on your door, holding a packed suitcase, and whispering, ‘I’m moving in.’”

And yet, despite the biting tone, CAPS United maintain the final word is born from “brotherly concern.”

“Stay up. Stay dignified. And for the love of all things holy, stay away from that dusty pitch with the leaning goalposts.”

Whether Dynamos will respond to their “cousins” or let their football do the talking remains to be seen. But one thing is clear, Harare’s great football rivalry has never been this personal, or this poetic.