Alleged match-fixing overshadows Peter Ndlovu’s debut as head coach
What was meant to be a beautiful debut at the helm of a PSL club for former Warriors skipper Peter Ndlovu has been overshadowed by an alleged match-fixing attempt by his club.
Scottland FC interim coach Ndlovu will take charge of the defending champions for the first time on Thursday afternoon against CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium.
What was meant to be a proud moment in his coaching career is now clouded by a leaked audio allegedly linking a Scottland official to an attempt to bribe CAPS United players.
The high-profile fixture comes a few days after Scottland sacked Norman Mapeza following their CAF Champions League second preliminary round exit to Angolan giants Petro de Luanda, and as Mabviravira attempt to close the eight-point gap on log leaders Hardrock.
PETER NDLOVU SET TO MAKE HIS DEBUT AS HEAD COACH
For Ndlovu, this was supposed to be a celebration of a journey that has come full circle. The Bulawayo-born legend, who holds a CAF A coaching licence, was appointed interim head coach after serving as Team Manager under Mapeza, having been prised away from South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns last year where he served as Team Manager from 2013.
Ndlovu is not just a coach taking charge of a big game, he is one of the greatest football legends in the history of the Zimbabwe Warriors. But he had never held a club coaching role.
He holds several monumental national team records that still stand today. Nsukuzonke is the Warriors’ record cap-holder with 100 international appearances, the all-time leading goalscorer with 38 goals, and captained the Warriors to their historic, maiden qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 2004.
He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a star of Reinhard Fabisch’s famous “Dream Team”. At club level, his place in history is even bigger. He was the first African player to feature in the modern English Premier League after it was rebranded from the old First Division in 1992.
He made his debut for Coventry City in August 1992 and on September 2, 1992, became the first African to score in the competition when he netted against Sheffield Wednesday.
But for all his legendary status, Ndlovu’s head coach debut has been marred by controversy that has nothing to do with him. In a leaked audio clip that surfaced on Wednesday, a woman who purports to have been sent by Scottland owner Scott Sakupwanya is heard trying to persuade veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi to help her influence CAPS United players.
Ahead of this game, Hardrock lead with 69 points from 32 games, while Scottland are second on 61 points from 30 games with the league’s best defence having conceded just 11 goals.
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