Hunters wary of giant-killers Hwange in Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup

Hunters sit 14th in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League with 25 points from 26 matches, but their place in the top flight will not make them favourites against Hwange in the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup round of 16. They have won four league matches, drawn 13 and lost nine, with 19 goals scored and 31 conceded.

Hwange earned their place in the last 16 by eliminating Dynamos in the previous round. That result has made the Division One side a team Hunters are taking seriously, with FC Hunters chief executive Terrence Malunga warning that their opponents have experience and confidence from the victory.

Malunga believes the knockout draw is manageable, but he does not regard Hwange as an easy opponent. He said the club’s long history and their performance against Dynamos gave them sufficient grounds to be respected despite their absence from the Premier Soccer League.

Hunters will also approach the tie as the underdogs. Malunga described his team as a relatively new club with a young squad, while viewing the pressure as being on Hwange because of their status as an established football institution. Hunters’ aim is to test themselves and continue their run in the competition.

The top-flight club’s recent league form offers little room for complacency. They have lost to Herentals, Chicken Inn and Scotland Mabvuku, beaten CAPS United away and drawn at Kariba in their past five matches. Those results leave them with one win, one draw and three defeats across that sequence.

Before turning fully to the cup, Hunters must prepare for their next league fixture against Hardrock at Rufaro on August 22, 2026. Malunga said the opportunity to play in one of Zimbabwe’s major knockout competitions is motivating the squad, while the club continues efforts to strengthen its operations and player welfare.