By Tatiana Mhararira
Football fans in Masvingo City are bustling with excitement as the highly awaited derby between Masvingo United and FC Wangu Mazodze is set to take place this weekend on July 6, 2025 at the iconic Mucheke stadium promising an electric atmosphere as local pride and rivalry come to the forefront.
Both teams have had a mixed season so far with FC Wangu Mazodze known as Kingdom Boys currently sitting in the mid table while Masvingo United FC nicknamed Una Una aims to climb higher in the league standings as it is in the top three.
Masvingo United FC known for their passionate fan base and strong home advantage will be looking to secure a victory on their turf and the derby is of importance as it is not just about points but about pride within Masvingo City.
Speaking to TellZim News Masvingo United FC Spokesperson Omen Mafa said they were geared up for the derby despite their previous lose to Tenax Correctional Services FC.
“Despite our loss against Tenax FC we are confident that we are still in it. It is always not good to lose points at home particularly when you are in the race but it is water under the bridge.
“We have shifted our focus and our eyes are on our home game against FC Wangu Mazodze. Last season we lost against them in the same encounter but this is a different season. We are putting everything we have to collect maximum points. We respect them so much but our focus is on three points,” said Mafa.
He also said they were proud of their level of preparedness and as the mid-season break approached, there was no information on transfers.
“We have 30 registered players. We are not under any pressure. We are prepared for the back to back games with any opponent. So we are prepared for that double header with FC Wangu Mazodze,”he said.
One Una Una fan, Munyaradzi Savanhu said they were ready for the derby and they hoped their team was going to attain best results.
“We are not afraid of FC Wangu Mazodze despite that we are coming from a lose. We are really in need of that game and we hope to bounce back to our winning streak. We need to correct our errors we face the opponent ready enough.
“A game has got three results win, draw and lose so we expect any of the above but our major goal is to collect maximum points so as to reach our PSL goal,” said Savanhu.
In an interview with TellZim News, FC Wangu Mazodze spokesperson Blessing Kwesha said the derby was going to be a tough game but they wanted a win and also to uplift their prestige.
“The derby is going to be a tough game but we are going to field players who will sail us through this difficult game. We don’t just want three points but we also want bragging rights as we move around the streets. After winning this game we will reclaim our prestige in all corners of the city,” said Kwesha.
FC Wangu Mazodze supporter Ruth Mapiye said they were looking forward to the derby and emphasised on peace during the game.
“We are looking forward to an exciting match ahead as this is one of the biggest games on our fixture.
“We ask for peace throughout the match as these derbies always come with violence but we just want the losing team to accept defeat and also congratulate the winner because being from the same city it means we are brothers despite the fact that we are competing for the same Premier Soccer League (PSL) ticket,” said Mapiye.
Another Kingdom Boys devotee Ellen Kasaera said they had put trust in the players despite the fact that Masvingo United FC was currently on top of the table.
“The match is going to be exciting and the technical team will field our best players who will face our greatest rival of all times Una Una. Despite that we are playing against one of the top teams in the ERSL we hope for the better and we will bounce back and win this derby just like we did last season on the same game,”
The probability of the teams winning the derby remains unknown with Mazodze having recorded only two wins on derby matches since it joined the ERSL Division 1 in 2022.Their first win against Una Una was on July 11,2023 when the team won 1-nil and the second win was on October 27,2024.
Masvingo United FC had been recording draws and wins on derbies except on those two matches when they lost to FC Wangu Mazodze.
Currently Una Una is on number two with 29 points after FC Hunters and Tenax FC who have 35 points and 34 points respectively while the Kingdom Boys sits on position 7 with 18 points having won 5 games out of the 13 played this season.
As the countdown to kick off begins, the excitement in Masvingo City is profound. Football lovers are in for the encounter that promises to deliver unforgettable moments on the pitch.
Whether you are rooting for Una Una or Kingdom Boys one thing is certain the derby is set to be a spectacular showcase of local football talent and passion.