For the umpteenth time, Scottland dropped points in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
The Premiership debutants, whose arrival in football threatened to make the country’s top-flight league a one-team-dominated affair, have simply failed to live up to that kind of expectation.
Mabviravira, owned by flamboyant legislator and mining mogul Pedzai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya, bullied Premiership teams during the pre-season transfer period and got every player who was on their wishlist.
Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, former Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat, last season’s top goal scorer Lynoth Chikuhwa, highly rated former Highlanders defender Peter Muduhwa, former Simba Bhora midfield workhorse Tichaona Chipunza and Tymon Machope all joined Scotland.
The Mabvuku-based outfit even has the hugely talented duo of Mthokosizi Msebe and Panashe Mutimbanyoka, as well as three brilliant goalkeepers in the shape of Talbert Shumba, Nelson Chadya and Kelvin Shangiwa.
Despite all that talent at coach Tonderai Ndiraya’s disposal, Scottland is failing to tick, to the ire of even Sakupwanya, who publicly blasted his side, in comparison to their sister club N’ombeyaora.
The Scotts have won just three of their opening eight matches, edging Triangle United before dispatching CAPS United and Bikita Minerals.
Last Saturday’s goalless draw with ZPC Kariba at Nyagumba was their second stalemate in succession, after they were somewhat very fortunate to draw against FC Platinum.
Reports of player discontent and lack of unity among the technical team and Tonderai Ndiraya-led executive have been the order of the day.
Lack of trust on the part of Sakupwanya and those around him, emanating from the inflating of transfer fees, has made things even worse.
To add to the drama, former Bulawayo Chiefs media officer Thulani “Javas” Sibanda, who made the Ninjas the Twitter kings they are today, returned to the Bulawayo-based outfit under unclear circumstances and left them to become the Scottland media officer at the end of last year.
It’s clearly not rosy in Scotland, and only time will tell whether the wheels are slowly coming off or not.
