Of what profit is it to slay a lion, but the hunter who gets more praise is the one who killed a hare because the latter would have brought relish?
That is the question every Scottland fan must be asking head coach Tonderai Ndiraya after last Saturday’s defeat to MWOS.
Scottland, in their debut campaign in the Premiership, have avoided defeat against all the country’s traditional giants – Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United – underlining their credentials as a big team in the process.
But it was the MWOS game, which they desperately wanted to win.
The two sides’ rivalry dates back to last year, when they were battling for the sole ticket to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer in Division One.
It was more than just three points at stake at a packed Ngoni Stadium.
The build-up to the eagerly awaited clash was dominated by reports of Scottland players being promised to share US$180,000 in winning bonuses while the Clayton Arimoso-led MWOS executive kept a very tight lead on promises made to their players, if there were any.
In the end, the Punters emerged victorious thanks to in-form Billy Veremu’s solitary second-half strike – his ninth goal of the season.
While the defeat to MWOS was, to anyone affiliated with Scotland, a fatal blow, Ndiraya insists it will not define their season.
“We have played only 14 games; there is still plenty of football to play. Why should we start panicking? We obviously want to get points on the road; unfortunately, it could not happen against Mwos,” said Ndiraya.
“In the end we had to lose the game, but it’s part of the process. There are still 60 points to play for,’’ he added.
Worryingly for Ndiraya, his charges have not won any of the four matches they have played outside Harare.
Before the defeat to MWOS in Norton, Scottland scored with the last kick of the game to force a 1-1 draw with Highlanders at Babourfields, played out a goalless draw with ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga, before settling for another goalless draw with Manica Diamonds at Sakubva.
Picking up points on the road, Ndiraya cautions, is by no means an easy task.
“You obviously want to collect points as you go, but it’s very difficult to collect points away from home. That’s why I said we have to give credit to MWOS for maximising home advantage,” said Ndiraya.
“Our next match is back at home, and we have to capitalise on our home advantage and get maximum points, but there is still plenty of football to be played.
“Its still early days to be talking about anything at the moment, and there will be twists and turns ahead,” added Ndiraya.
