Since 2024, the major talking point in Zimbabwean football has not been about Zifa or its elections but the arrival on the scene of Scottland Football Club.
Right now, there is no discussion on Zimbabwean football without the mention of the team that has given the Zimbabwean game a refreshing outlook.
Big names, big transfer fees, and huge salaries have turned all the attention to the team that is fronted by Mabvuku Member of Parliament Scott Sakupwanya with huge financial backing from Wicknell Chivayo, Ecobank and Sakunda Holdings.
All the stars Walter Musona, Peter Muduwa, Godknows Murwira, Khama Billiat, Lynoth Chikuhwa, Tichaona Chipunza, Kingsley Mureremba, and Tymon Machope, have all made Scottland their new home leaving Caps United, Highlanders, and Simba Bhora.
With such an array of Zimbabwean football stars, and national team players, most believe Scottland have already won the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title before the season itself has started, but they are wrong.
Surely, in terms of a professional club set up, nobody competes with what Scottland is doing, but in terms of player acquisitions question marks remain.
Did Scottland buy the right material or they just spent heavily if not lavishly on big names in order to attract more attention?
Will the likes of Khama Billiat, Godknows Murwira, Peter Muduwa, and Tichaona Chipunza, be able to keep up with the pace, speed, and competition, that the PSL is likely to offer this season?
- Chivayo’s US$25m lawsuit overstated: ZPC
- Muckracker: The circus goes to America
- Hwange ‘explosion’ blackouts Zim
- Chivayo wins case, pockets US$22m
Keep Reading
Football analyst Tadhinhiwa Gore doubts the future success of Scottland's player buying spree.
"What they did was that they just bought big names without looking at the value they would bring to the club. They just bought players randomly without looking at the positions of the players and where they want to fill," Gore pointed out.
Gore even questioned the logic of the club purchasing the players before appointing the coach contending that some of the players might not fit into Tonderai Ndiraya's system of play.
What's more, Scottland's perceived supremacy is even threatened further with the arrival onto the scene of bitter rivals, MWOS, who will be based at Ngoni Stadium in Norton.
The two have a bitter rivalry stretching back to their fight for the sole Northern Region Soccer League ticket into the PSL and the last thing Scottland would have wanted to hear was that MWOS were now in the Premiership after acquiring the franchise of Zesa Hwange.
With a strong financial base and a sound administration headed by club president Patrick Tamson, MWOS will certainly give Scottland the challenge in all angles.
The race, though, will not only be between Scottland and MWOS but nobody surely expects Simba Bhora to retain their title following the massive player exodus and the departure of coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Manica Diamonds and Chicken Inn will be formidable adversaries but it would be inviting disappointment to have high hopes in Caps United, Dynamos, and Highlanders.
The question is: Will Scottland come straight from Division One and win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title? The picture on the surface says YES but reality says NO.
*For your views, comments and suggestions mkariati@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 071 0774 596
