{{short description|Zimbabwean football league}} {{Use South African English|date=May 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox football league | name = Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League | logo = Castle_Lager_Premier_Soccer_League.jpg | pixels = 163px | country = {{ZIM}} (18 teams) | confed = CAF | founded = {{Start date and age|1980}} | teams = 18 | relegation = Zimbabwean Division One | levels = 1 | domest_cup = Chibuku Super Cup <br> | confed_cup = Champions League <br> Confederation Cup | champions = Scottland (1st title) | season = 2025 | most successful club = Dynamos <br> (21 titles)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zimbchamp.html | title=Zimbabwe (And Rhodesia) Champions | access-date=2 February 2023 | archive-date=7 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207025352/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zimbchamp.html | url-status=live }}</ref> | tv = ZTN (live matches) | website = | current = 2026 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.<ref name="Sponsorship">{{cite news|title=$3,6m for Castle Lager PSL|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2014/03/27/36m-castle-lager-psl/|access-date=14 July 2016|work=News Day|date=27 March 2014|archive-date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822195846/https://www.newsday.co.zw/2014/03/27/36m-castle-lager-psl/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballzone.co.zw/zimbabwe-psl/league-table|title=FootballZone.co.zw – 2012 PSL League table|publisher=FootballZone|access-date=12 April 2012|archive-date=23 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923092826/http://www.footballzone.co.zw/zimbabwe-psl/league-table|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=zim/nationalleague/standings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626100141/http://fifa.com/associations/association=zim/nationalleague/standings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2007|title=Fifa.com – Zimbabwe:- League table|publisher=Fifa}}</ref>
The 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 winner also plays the winners of the Chibuku Cup in the Castle Challenge Cup at the beginning of the following season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2026 |title=Scottland clinch Castle Challenge Cup after rampage show over Dynamos - ZimStar News |url=https://zimstarnews.com/2026/03/01/scottland-clinch-castle-challenge-cup-after-rampage-show-over-dynamos/ |access-date=2026-03-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Overview== ===Locations=== {{location map+|Zimbabwe|width=600|float="center"|caption=Location of teams in the '''2025 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League'''.|places={{location map~ |Zimbabwe|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=-17.82 |long=31.05|label=Harare|position=right}}{{location map~ |Zimbabwe|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=-20.17 |long=28.58|label=Bulawayo|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-18.66 |long=30.35 |label=Ngezi Platinum |position=top}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-18.96 |long=32.63 |label=Manica Diamonds |position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-20.33 |long=30.03 |label=FC Platinum |position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-20.86 |long=32.23 |label=Green Fuel |position=top}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-16.51 |long=28.80 |label=ZPC Kariba |position=right}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-17.31 |long=31.55 |label=Simba Bhora |position=top}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-19.96 |long=31.43 |label=Bikita Minerals |position=top}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-19.43 |long=29.79 |label=TelOne |position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-18.93 |long=29.81 |label=Kwekwe United |position=left}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-17.88 |long=30.67 |label=MWOS |position=left}} {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|lat=-21.03 |long=31.43 |label=Triangle United |position=left}}
<!--DISPLAY OF HARARE TEAMS IN TOP LEFT CORNER--> {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=-15.55 |long=24.8 | |label='''Harare teams'''<br> Dynamos<br> Herentals<br>CAPS United<br>Scottland F.C.<br/>Yadah|position=right}}
<!--DISPLAY OF BULAWAYO TEAMS IN BOTTOM LEFT CORNER--> {{Location map~ |Zimbabwe|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=-21.4 |long=24.8||label='''Bulawayo teams'''<br> Highlanders<br> Chicken Inn<br> |position=right}} |position=left}}
===Previous winners=== {{main|List of Zimbabwean football champions}}
===Top goalscorers=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! width="100" | Year ! width="200" | Best scorers ! width="220" | Team ! width="100" | Goals |- |'''1996''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Alois Bunjira || CAPS United || 23 |- |'''1999–2000''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zambia}} Chewe Mulenga || Railstars || 24 |- |'''2000''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Thomas Makwasha || Shabanie || 16 |- |'''2001''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Tapfuma Gahadzikwa || CAPS United || 19 |- |'''2002''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Zenzo Moyo || Highlanders || 21 |- |'''2003''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Sageby Sandaka || Amazulu || 17 |- |'''2004''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Leonard Tsipa || CAPS United || 18 |- |'''2005''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Edmore Mufema || Motor Action || 17 |- |'''2006''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Ralph Matema || Highlanders || 19 |- |'''2007''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Cuthbert Malajila || Chapungu United || 15 |- |'''2008''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Evans Chikwaikwai || Njube Sundowns || 23 |- |'''2009''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Nyasha Mushekwi || CAPS United || 21 |- |'''2010''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Norman Maroto || Gunners || 22 |- |'''2011''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Rodreck Mutuma || Dynamos || 14 |- |'''2012''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Nelson Mazivisa || Shabanie Mine || 18 |- |'''2013''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Tendai Ndoro || Chicken Inn || 18 |- |'''2015''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Knox Mutizwa || Highlanders || 14 |- |'''2016''' | style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Leonard Tsipa || CAPS United || 11 |- |'''2017''' |style="text-align:left" |{{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Mukhoshi Sibanda||Bantu Rovers ||7 |- |'''2021–22''' |align=left|{{Flagicon|Zimbabwe}} William Manondo||CAPS United||17 |- |'''2023''' |align=left|{{Flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Fortune Binzi||Manica Diamonds||8 |- |'''2024''' |align=left|{{Flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Lynoth Chikuhwa||Highlanders||17 |- |}
==Sponsorship== 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 has been extended until 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2024-02-23 |title=Delta, PSL marriage continues; new three year US$3.3m sponsorship deal |url=https://nehandaradio.com/2024/02/23/delta-psl-marriage-continues-new-three-year-us3-3m-sponsorship-deal/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Nehanda Radio |language=en-US}}</ref> Originally a lower income level, in 2014 Delta Beverages upped their sponsorship to $3.6 million.<ref name="Sponsorship"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center" !Period !Sponsor !Name |- |2011– ||Delta Beverages, Castle Lager ||Castle Lager Premier Soccer League
|}
==Media coverage== Previously, the Premier Soccer League had a television deal with SuperSport who broadcast matches regularly across Africa.<ref name="Television">{{cite news|title=Zimbabwe - Premier Soccer League|url=http://www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/zimbabwe/premier-soccer-league/|access-date=14 July 2016|work=LiveSoccerTV|date=14 July 2016|archive-date=23 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823214449/http://www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/zimbabwe/premier-soccer-league/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021, the league signed a deal with ZTN (Zimpapers Television Network) to air live Castle Lager PSL and Chibuku Super Cup matches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PSL, ZTN in game changing deal |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/psl-ztn-in-game-changing-deal/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=The Herald |language=en-US |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530061252/https://www.herald.co.zw/psl-ztn-in-game-changing-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ZTN Prime,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herald |first=The |title=Joy as ZTN Prime goes live on DStv |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/joy-as-ztn-prime-goes-live-on-dstv/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=The Herald |language=en-GB |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530064815/https://www.herald.co.zw/joy-as-ztn-prime-goes-live-on-dstv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> their newest free-to-air television network will air the matches and their social media platforms as well.
==Lack of goalscoring== As of end of the 2024 season, in the eleven seasons since 2012, when champions Dynamos scored 58 goals in a 30-game season, only three teams have scored more than 50 goals, in spite of the season length being increased to 34 games. This relative lack of goalscoring has been attributed to poor pitch quality, a defensive coaching attitude, and a lack of resources and data-driven training.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why aren't Zimbabwean football clubs scoring enough goals? |url=https://www.zimsphere.co.zw/2025/04/why-arent-zimbabwean-football-clubs.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=The Zimbabwe Sphere}}</ref>
==See also== *Soccer Star of the Year
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070626100141/http://fifa.com/associations/association=zim/nationalleague/standings.html fifa.com]; League overview *[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zimbchamp.html RSSSF competition history]
{{Football in Zimbabwe}} {{Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League}} {{CAF Leagues}}
Category:Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League Category:Football leagues in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Category:Sports leagues established in 1980 Category:1980 establishments in Zimbabwe