Zimbabwe Saints FC is a former Premier League football club based in

Bulawayo Bulawayo (, ; ) is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council claimed it to be about ...

Zimbabwe file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...

. It was one of the top clubs in the country.

History

One of the oldest clubs in Zimbabwe, it was formed in 1931 by a merger of several teams which had their origins from Shona speaking areas but based in Bulawayo. The name Mashonaland United FC was used up until 1975 when nationalist leaders such as Dr

Herbert Ushewokunze Doctor Herbert Ushewokunze served as the Home Affairs Minister of Zimbabwe. A founding member of the Zimbabwe African National Union, Ushewokunze strongly supported President Robert Mugabe until he fell out of favor.''Re-living the Second Chimure ...

and Dr

Joshua Nkomo Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo (19 June 1917 – 1 July 1999) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 1990 until his death in 1999. He founded and led the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) ...

(both late) felt tribal names were causing divisions among African people. It then changed its name to Zimbabwe Saints Football Club. Some of its early players include the late Vice President of Zimbabwe and the patron of ZIFA, Honourable

Joseph Msika Joseph Wilfred Msika (6 December 1923 – 4 August 2009), was a Zimbabwean politician who served as Second Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2009.Sydney Kawadza"VP Msika dies", ''The Herald'', 6 August 2009. Early life Msika was born in ...

. The "Chauya Chikwata" as it's nicknamed was arguably one of the best teams in the

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 ...

in the 1980s and early 1990s. Famous for its youth development, the club has been home to some of the finest footballers to ever grace the Zimbabwean national team such as Joseph Machingura,

Agent Sawu Agent Sawu (born 24 October 1971) is a Zimbabwean former football striker and current manager. He operated at Rising Stars Football Academy in Zimbabwe helping young kids across Bulawayo realize their talent and exploit to their maximum potenti ...

, Muzondiwa Mugadza, Ronald Sibanda, Henry McKop, Ephraim Chawanda, Gibson Homela, John Sibanda, Ebson "Sugar" Muguyo to name just a few. The most famous class of 1988 coached by Roy Baretto went on a 23-game unbeaten streak to capture the

Championship in style. They were also losing semi-finalists of CECAFA Club championships in 1988. It went on to play in the

CAF CAF or caf may refer to: Armed forces *Canadian Armed Forces (Canadian Forces), the Canadian Air Force, Army, and Navy *Canadian Air Force, now the Royal Canadian Air Force *Republic of China Air Force, the air force of the Republic of China (Tai ...

Club Champions Cup in 1989 and was eliminated in the quarter-finals. In-club fighting has been the major cause of the club's decline. The club was demoted 2 times in 2004 and 2006. In 2007 a new executive led by seasoned administrator Elliot Manduna was elected into office. Since then the club was on a rebuilding exercise. It introduced a development side in Division Two.

Merger

On Saturday 31 January 2009, the Life members of the club voted in favour of a merger with Njube Sundowns Football Club another Bulawayo based club. This was not successful but in February 2011, they bought the franchise of Chitungwiza-based Zimbabwe Premier League outfit Eagles. Zimbabwe Saints were relegated from the Premier Soccer League in 2006. The return of Zimbabwe Saints in 2011 into the premiership would bring more excitement into the league in Bulawayo. The city already had Highlanders and Chicken Inn in the Premier League.

Disappearance

On May 3, 2016, Zimbabwe Saints have been expelled from the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two League, for failing to affiliate and fulfil three consecutive matches.

Club House

Zimbabwe Saints were one of the few teams in Zimbabwe who own sporting facilities. The sports club or clubhouse as it is popularly known is situated in Queens Park East, north-east of Bulawayo. Besides a soccer pitch, other sporting facilities at the clubhouse include tennis courts, netball court, volleyball court and darts. There is also a sports bar used by the members and supporters.

Honours

: 2 ::1977, 1988 * Zimbabwean Cup: 3 ::1977, 1979, 1987 *

Zimbabwean Independence Trophy The Zimbabwean Independence Trophy is a Zimbabwean association football knockout tournament. It was created as a clubs competition in 1983 played during commemorations of the country's independence. The final is usually played on 18 April, which is ...

: 2 ::1989, 1998 * Southern Region Division One: 1 ::2005

Performance in CAF competitions

African Cup of Champions Clubs The CAF Champions League, known for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and formerly the African Cup of Champions Clubs, is an annual club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) a ...

: 1 appearance ::

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

: Quarter-Final

References

{{reflist Football clubs in Zimbabwe 1931 establishments in Southern Rhodesia Association football clubs established in 1931 Association football clubs disestablished in 2016 Sport in Bulawayo