Dynamos emerged as the winners of the 2025 Castle Challenge Cup, defeating Simba Bhora 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes at a rain-soaked Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.
Simba Bhora took the lead in the 47th minute with a goal from centre-back Isheanesu Mauchi. However, Dynamos’ new signing Mandivei equalised for DeMbare with just three minutes remaining.
Dynamos coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe started three new signings — Blessing “MaBhule” Dziwo, Ghanaian striker Frank Agmeyang, and Mandivei.
On the other hand, Simba Bhora’s coach, Joel Lupahla, gave seven new signings their first starts, including goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga, Trevor Mavhunga, Butholezwe Ncube, Blessed Ndereki, Emmanuel Ziocha, Donald Mudadi, and Isakar Guribab.
In a dramatic penalty shootout, Dynamos’ Abel Gwatidzo, a forgotten junior product, stepped up to convert the winning penalty, marking a triumphant return for DeMbare in the cup final.
Temptation Chiwunga, Emmanuel Jalai, Donald Dzvinyai, and Clive Mandivei all scored during the shootout for Dynamos.
For Simba Bhora, Blessing Moyo, Harrison Masina, and Never Tigere successfully converted their penalties, but Ismael Nyanhi missed, sealing the victory for Dynamos.
<h2>Teams</h2>
Dynamos: P. Tafiremutsa, E. Jalai, N. Chinyerere, C. Mandivei, D. Dzvinyai, S. Nyahwa (T. Pio 82nd), E. Chikona, B. Dziwo (A. Mandinyenya 52, A. Gwatidzo 94), F. Agmeyang (B. Jerimani 77), T. Chiwunga, V. Kadonzvo (E. Perezo Junior 77)
Simba Bhora: T. Mateyaunga, W. Tafa, I. Mauchi, T. Mavhunga, B. Moyo, I. Nyanhi, B. Ncube (L. Chakoroma 86), B. Ndereki, E. Ziocha (W. Manondo 65), D. Mudadi (N. Tigere 65), I. Guribab (J. Makunike 75)

Pindula News

Dynamos won the 2025 Castle Challenge Cup by beating Simba Bhora 5-3 in a penalty shootout. Simba Bhora scored first, but Dynamos equalized late in the game. Both teams had new players on the field. In the shootout, Dynamos scored more goals, with Abel Gwatidzo converting the winning penalty. Simba Bhora also scored, but one of their shots missed, giving Dynamos the victory. It was a tough and exciting game, with both teams playing well.

Dynamos Edge Simba Bhora 5-3 In Penalty Shootout To Win 2025 Castle Challenge Cup

The 2025 Castle Challenge Cup, marking the start of the football calendar for the year, will be played on Saturday, 22 February 2025, at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
Premier Soccer League (PSL) Champions Simba Bhora will face Chibuku Super Cup Winners, Dynamos, in this match, which usually takes place a week before the PSL season begins.
PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare confirmed this on Thursday, saying the full fixture for the 2025 season will be released soon. She said:
<blockquote>
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is pleased to announce that the Castle Challenge Cup will officially mark the beginning of the 2025 football calendar.
This encounter will see the League Champions Simba Bhora FC take on the Chibuku Super Cup Winners, Dynamos FC in a thrilling contest to set the tone for the new season.
The PSL will release the full fixture for the 2025 season in due course.
</blockquote>

The 2025 Castle Challenge Cup will be held on February 22 at Rufaro Stadium. Simba Bhora will play against Dynamos in this match. This cup marks the start of the football season. PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare confirmed this on Thursday. The 2025 season fixture will be released soon. This match happens a week before the PSL season starts. It will be an exciting game to watch and we can't wait for the new season to begin.

2025 Castle Challenge Cup Set For February 22 At Rufaro

Ngezi Platinum Stars picked up their first piece of silverware this season, the Castle Challenge Cup, after beating Dynamos at Baobab Stadium on Saturday, 24 February.
The Castle Challenge Cup is contested by the previous season’s Premier Soccer League winner and the Chibuku Super Cup winner.
Claude Mapoka gave Ngezi Platinum Stars the lead five minutes before the break before second-half substitute Ellson Mweha sealed the win 20 minutes from the final whistle when his powerful grounder struck the back of the net.
Speaking after the match, Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach Takesure Chiragwi said the victory is a confidence boost for his team going into the 2024 PSL season. He said:
<blockquote>
We are very happy; it is the dream of every coach and player to win a trophy and put silverware into the cabinet.
When you win such games, it gives you confidence, which is very important going into the season.
It is good for the Champions to keep winning and keep that mentality going forward.
</blockquote>
Dynamos’ coach, Genesis Mangombe, said his team conceded soft goals adding the errors have to be addressed in the upoming season. He said:
<blockquote>
When you play professional football, you can’t afford to make such kind of mistakes.
All we can do now is learn from those errors and hopefully address them before we go into the new season.
The goals were soft and silly and you cannot win matches from such mistakes.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Ngezi Platinum Stars Crowned Castle Challenge Cup Champions

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Highlanders_Football_Club" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Highlanders Football Club</a> is set to pay a heavy price for its fans’ unruly behaviour in a Castle Challenge Cup tie against FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.
With Bosso trailing the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Premier_Soccer_League" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Premier Soccer League (PSL)</a> champions by two goals to nil, Highlanders hooligans forced the match to be halted after they invaded the pitch and pelted police officers with stones.
PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare on Monday said:
<blockquote>We will proceed to charge Highlanders FC in terms of the Premier Soccer League rules and regulations and as well as the rules of the tournament.
Such unruly behaviour cannot be tolerated as it reflects badly on the game of football and the country as a whole.</blockquote>
Highlanders had earlier on Monday castigated its fans’ rowdy behaviour saying it reflects badly on the game of football and the country as a whole.
The match was watched by football fans as far as Italy.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/03/bosso-face-penalty/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

Highlanders To Pay A Heavy Price For Fans' Hooliganism

<blockquote>We are pleased to announce that the Castle Challenge Cup between <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/FC_Platinum" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FC Platinum</a> and <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Highlanders_Football_Club" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Highlanders FC</a> is scheduled to be played at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday 14 March 2020.
The Castle Challenge Cup winners will receive a sum of ZWL $400 000 (Four hundred thousand dollars) and the runners up will receive ZWL $250 000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars).
The gate charges for the said match are as follows: Rest of ground: ZWL $50, VIP: ZWL $100 and VVIP: ZWL $200.
Please be advised that the 2020 Castle Lager PSL sponsorship will be unveiled soon.</blockquote>

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