Why aren’t Zimbabwean football clubs scoring enough goals?

TAWANDA CHARI

Goals win games. Goals define leagues. Goals attract fans. But in the Zimbabwe Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL), goals – or rather, the lack of them – have become an intriguing trend warranting some scrutiny. Over the past 18 completed seasons, Zimbabwean top-flight champions have rarely breached the 50-goal mark, with only a handful of teams managing to light up the nets consistently.

Let’s be clear — it’s not just a recent problem. Scoring has always been modest in Zimbabwe’s elite football division. In fact, based on records available, the highest tally by a champion in the last two decades came from Dynamos in 2012, with 58 goals. 

Since then, only FC Platinum (2021-22) with 55 goals and their 2018 campaign (52 goals) have come close. The rest? Let’s just say the numbers aren’t flattering.

A Look At The Numbers (2014 – 2024)

• 2024: Simba Bhora – 39 goals
• 2023: Ngezi Platinum Stars – 45 goals
• 2021-22: FC Platinum – 55 goals (Transitional season)
• 2019: FC Platinum – 34 goals
• 2018: FC Platinum – 52 goals
• 2017: FC Platinum – 40 goals
• 2016: CAPS United – 42 goals
• 2015: Chicken Inn – 45 goals
• 2014: Dynamos – 34 goals

That's nine champions in ten seasons. Only three teams scored more than 50 goals. Several didn’t even make it past the 40s. With 18 teams and 34 games in a season (since 2017), the opportunity to score is there. So why the drought?

Poor Pitch Quality: A Major Culprit

It's no secret that many local stadiums remain in a subpar condition. Hard patches, overgrown grass, uneven surfaces — the kind of things that can turn a simple pass into a misfire. For teams trying to play progressive, attacking football, this is a nightmare. Combine this with the rainy season fixtures and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Coaching Philosophy: Pragmatism Over Panache

Many coaches in the local game have adopted a defensive, results-first approach. It’s understandable — jobs are on the line and margins are thin. But this mindset often means settling for 1-0s, grinding out draws and packing the midfield. Flair players are stifled. Forwards are isolated. Goals dry up.

There’s also a heavy reliance on long balls and physical duels — tactics that don’t typically produce high-scoring games. Attacking build-up play is often sacrificed for safety.

Player Development and Attacking Quality

Let’s be honest — Zimbabwe hasn’t produced many prolific strikers at club level in recent years. The production line that gave us the likes of Agent Sawu, Shingi Kawondera, and Benjani Mwaruwari has slowed down. Young strikers aren’t getting enough minutes, and creative midfielders are few and far between.

Lack of Resources and Data-Driven Training

Advanced analytics, nutrition, fitness regimes — these are game-changers in modern football. Unfortunately, most Zimbabwean clubs operate without these tools. This impacts everything, from tactical planning to player conditioning. Inconsistent training methods often translate into inconsistent attacking output.

What Needs to Change?

• Invest in infrastructure. Better pitches mean better football.
• Support coaching education. Encourage attacking styles of play.
• Nurture attacking talent. Prioritize youth development and exposure.
• Use data. Even basic stats can help teams understand what works and what doesn’t.

Final Whistle

The Castle Lager PSL is full of passion, grit and talent — but it’s crying out for more goals. A league that regularly sees its champions score just over one goal per match will always struggle to attract wider attention.

For Zimbabwean football to truly grow — not just domestically but across the continent — our teams must find the net more often. Because at the end of the day, fans come for the goals. Let’s give them a reason to cheer.