Yadah FC’s Top-Flight Journey to End in Relegation? — Magaya in Police Custody
The 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season is concluding in dramatic fashion, with Yadah FC facing relegation from the top flight on the same weekend their owner, Walter Magaya, was taken into police custody.
Detectives in unmarked vehicles reportedly raided Magaya’s church offices in Harare early Saturday morning, leading to his arrest. Magaya, a self-proclaimed prophet and prominent football benefactor, has been a key figure in Zimbabwean football since taking over Gunners FC in 2014 and rebranding it to Yadah Gunners, later simply Yadah FC.
Once hailed as one of the league’s most stable privately owned clubs, Yadah’s relegation would mark a bitter chapter in their football journey.
Founded as Gunners FC in 2005 by Cuthbert Chitima, the club rose to prominence under coach Moses Chunga, who guided them to a league title in 2009. They were later bought by Magaya and re-emerged as Yadah Stars, earning promotion back to the PSL in 2016 after winning the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One.
Now, after nearly a decade in the top division, Yadah have dropped back to 17th on 34 points, one ahead of bottom-placed Kwekwe United (10 points).
Zimbabwe 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Table (After Matchday 32)
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottland FC | 32 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 45 | 19 | +26 | 65 |
| 2 | MWOS FC | 32 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 33 | 21 | +12 | 58 |
| 3 | Simba Bhora FC | 32 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 35 | 20 | +15 | 57 |
| 4 | Ngezi Platinum Stars FC | 32 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 54 |
| 5 | TelOne FC | 32 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 39 | 24 | +15 | 53 |
| 6 | FC Platinum | 32 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 28 | 20 | +8 | 47 |
| 7 | Herentals College FC | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 44 |
| 8 | ZPC Kariba FC | 32 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 43 |
| 9 | CAPS United FC | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 39 |
| 10 | Highlanders FC | 32 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 27 | 26 | +1 | 37 |
| 11 | Chicken Inn FC | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 22 | 24 | -2 | 37 |
| 12 | Manica Diamonds FC | 32 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 19 | 23 | -4 | 37 |
| 13 | Dynamos FC | 32 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 19 | 25 | -6 | 37 |
| 14 | Bikita Minerals FC | 32 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 36 | -12 | 36 |
| 15 | GreenFuel FC | 32 | 7 | 14 | 11 | 27 | 29 | -2 | 35 |
| 16 | Triangle United FC | 32 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 31 | 32 | -1 | 34 |
| 17 | Yadah FC | 32 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 28 | -6 | 34 |
| 18 | Kwekwe United FC | 32 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 15 | 73 | -58 | 10 |
Relegation Summary
Relegation Zone Yadah FC, Triangle United FC, GreenFuel FC, Kwekwe United FC
Champions: Scottland FC (65 points)
Top 3: MWOS FC (58), Simba Bhora FC (57)
A Turbulent Ending for Yadah
If Yadah FC falls, this coincides with deep uncertainty around Magaya’s future. His arrest, coming at a time when the club’s form dipped dramatically, leaves questions over its financial stability and leadership if the club heads into Division One.
Despite flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, Yadah managed just eight wins from 32 matches, conceding 28 goals and finishing outside the safety zone on goal difference after match day 32.
As the season closes, Scottland FC celebrate their debut title, while Yadah’s once-inspiring story — from church-backed football revival to PSL survival — ends with a sobering reality both on and off the field.
— ZimbabweWarriorsZone.com