Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi, Zimpapers Sports Hub
HIGHLANDERS head to Rufaro on Sunday smelling blood, and Scottland know it.
The PSL newcomers from Mabvuku, hailed for their ambition and glitz, are wobbling on home turf.
They’ve collected just four points from the last 12 at Rufaro, where TelOne and CAPS United recently left them bruised.
Now, the Bulawayo giants, chasing consistency of their own, arrive with every intention of twisting the knife.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya is under no illusions. His side, still fourth on the log, are nine points off the pace set by Simba Bhora and MWOS.
The title race is still wide open, but Scottland’s top five dream, and any flicker of a championship charge, depends on rediscovering their footing at home.
“We’re going back to play at home, and naturally, you’d want to collect maximum points,” said Ndiraya.
“But it’s been very difficult for us at Rufaro. We’ve lost twice there, to TelOne and CAPS United. If we can fix that, we can push.”
That urgency follows a morale boosting 2-1 away win over Ngezi Platinum Stars last weekend, a gritty response to a four match winless slump. Still, the pressure is mounting.
Highlanders are no longer just fan favourites; they’re title outsiders smelling vulnerability.
Bosso, fresh from win against GreenFuel, know that a win at Rufaro could rattle the upper half of the table.
Ndiraya, meanwhile, is clinging to hope that the abandoned Chicken Inn game, which his side led before crowd trouble, will be ruled in their favour by the PSL disciplinary committee.
If that result swings their way, the deficit could shrink to six.
“There’s still so much to play for,” he said. “But I must be honest, we’re playing catch up. It’s not in our hands. The top two are in control. We have to be consistent and hope others drop points.”
For all the noise around the title, Ndiraya insists the club’s mission remains grounded: finish in the top five.
“Our president (Scott Sakupwanya) has said it over and over, if a title chance comes, we’ll grab it. But we’re focusing on the top five. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. Step by step, we’ll try to get there.
“Naturally, if you’re in the top five, you’re close to the top four, and that gives you a shot. But I think Simba Bhora are in there.
They’re the champions. MWOS too. I’m not sure where we’ll be after this game, but we’ll keep pushing.”
Scottland have reinforced during the window. Zimbabwe international Terrence Dzvukamanja is back after seven years in South Africa.
Malawian striker Khuda Ike Myaba and Namibian midfielder Moses Shidolo, both of whom debuted last week, have been added to the mix.
They’ll need more than just new faces to fend off a hungry Bosso side eager to close the gap and remind everyone that the heart of the title race still beats in Bulawayo.
Fixtures:
Saturday
CAPS Utd v TelOne (Rufaro)
Triangle v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Gibbo)
GreenFuel v Bikita Minerals (GreenFuel Arena)
Kwekwe Utd v Yadah (Bata)
MWOS v FC Platinum (Ngoni)
Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve)
Manica Diamonds v Herentals (Sakubva)
Simba Bhora v Dynamos (Wadzanayi)
Sunday
Scottland v Highlanders (Rufaro)
