Zimbabwean footballer Ronald Chitiyo on Saturday hosted an Under-18 soccer tournament in Epworth aimed at discouraging drug abuse among youths, organisers said.

The inaugural Ronald Chitiyo Under-18 Tournament, held at Batanayi Primary School under the theme *“Say No to Drugs,”* featured seven junior teams from the local community and surrounding areas. The event sought to combine youth development with an anti-drug awareness campaign.

Several local football personalities attended the tournament, including Scottland FC defender Ronald Pfumbidzai, Simba Bhora midfielder Blessing Moyo and former Warriors winger Talent Chawapiwa. Ferg Chivhayo, brother to businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, was also present.

Entertainer Comic Elder was the guest of honour and addressed young players and supporters, urging them to stay focused on their futures and avoid drug abuse.

Epworth Pirates Soccer Academy won the tournament after defeating Scottland Juniors 4–2 on penalties in the final.

Speaking after the event, Chitiyo said he was encouraged by the turnout and participation.

“I am pleased with the success of this first edition, especially the support from the community and the number of young players who took part,” he said.

Chawapiwa described the initiative as a positive example of players giving back to their communities.

The organisers said the tournament will be held annually as part of broader efforts to promote youth empowerment and social responsibility through sport.

Harare City FC is on the brink of an unexpected return to Zimbabwe’s Premier Soccer League after Harare City Council quietly moved to acquire a top-flight franchise from newly promoted Marondera outfit FC Hunters.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter say the agreement was concluded on December 11 at Town House in the early afternoon. The deal is understood to involve a blended settlement, with FC Hunters’ shareholders receiving both a cash component and residential land allocated by the municipality.

However, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has urged caution, stressing that while initial engagements may have taken place, the transaction has not yet been finalised and remains subject to full council approval.

“There are laid-down procedures we follow as council,” Mafume said. “We were already competing in the league with the aim of getting back into the Premier League. Where teams above us face challenges, we have an obligation to take steps once it is clear they cannot fulfil their requirements.”

Should the move be ratified, it would bring FC Hunters’ brief stay in the top flight to an abrupt end, barely weeks after the club clinched promotion as 2025 Pacific Storm ZIFA Eastern Region Division One champions. Their triumph sealed by a 2–1 win over Tenax FC at Rudhaka Stadium in October had marked Marondera’s first representation in the Premier Soccer League since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.

Mafume acknowledged that groundwork may already have been completed but reiterated that the final word rests with the full council.

“Some preliminary matters could have been signed off,” he said, “but anything involving council must still be tabled and approved. Until that happens, the process is not complete.”

Relegated from the PSL in 2022, Harare City FC would return to elite football after nearly three seasons outside the top tier. If confirmed, the Sunshine Boys face a daunting start to the 2026 season, opening at home against league runners-up MWOS FC, before travelling to Shamva to take on bronze medallists Simba Bhora. Encounters with FC Platinum and reigning champions Scottland FC follow in the early rounds.

The development comes amid ongoing speculation surrounding FC Hunters’ financial capacity to sustain top-flight football. The club has repeatedly dismissed reports of salary arrears and financial strain, recently reaffirming its commitment to grassroots development, upgrades at Rudhaka Stadium and plans for end-of-season awards. Nonetheless, the franchise sale would relieve the Marondera side of the heavy financial demands associated with Premier Soccer League participation.

For Harare City Council, the move reopens a long-standing and contentious relationship with professional football. Harare City FC has previously been criticised for consuming public funds amid allegations of poor governance and weak commercial viability.

In May 2023, Mafume suspended council funding to the club, citing operational irregularities. A year earlier, councillors had rejected a proposal to channel US$2.3 million into the team over six months, arguing that limited resources should be directed towards essential service delivery.

The council has also come under fire for the continued deterioration of Rufaro Stadium, where drainage problems have disrupted matches and eroded potential revenue streams.

Despite those challenges, the potential acquisition thrusts Harare City back into the Premier Soccer League spotlight reviving ambitions on the pitch while once again placing the municipality under scrutiny over its stewardship of football and public funds.

Scottland FC have intensified their build-up for continental action after bringing in Young Warriors duo Seth Musarapachena, a left-back, and Jameson Nduna Jnr, a central midfielder.

The two acquisitions mark the opening phase of a wider squad restructuring being overseen by newly installed head coach Norman Mapeza, a former Warriors skipper and one of the country’s most accomplished tacticians.

Mapeza boasts an impressive coaching résumé, having lifted league titles and domestic silverware with both Dynamos and FC Platinum. His coaching philosophy places strong emphasis on structure, discipline, and the gradual promotion of young players into competitive senior football.

In line with that vision, Scottland FC continue to strengthen their reputation as a breeding ground for emerging talent. Promising attacker Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi has already been absorbed into the first team, underlining the club’s long-term planning approach rather than relying on quick-fix signings.

The ongoing overhaul is expected to see as many as ten senior players exit the club as the reigning champions trim their squad in preparation for an intense 2026 campaign, which will feature their debut in the CAF Champions League.

Pre-season training is scheduled to commence early in the new year as Scottland seek to strike a balance between defending their domestic crown and adapting to the demands of continental football.