Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND coach Tonderai Ndiraya knows what it feels like to lift the Chibuku Super Cup. He did it in 2016 with Ngezi Platinum Stars and still savours the memory of that champagne soaked triumph.
Two of his key men at Scottland were with him on that run. First choice goalkeeper Nelson Chadya was Ngezi’s shot stopper back then, while striker Terrence Dzvukamanja announced himself with goals before moving to South Africa to play for Bidvest Wits, then Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United. He returned home this mid-season to join Scottland.
Their paths since then have been rich with success. Chadya remained at Ngezi to help deliver the club’s first league title in 2023 and won Goalkeeper of the Year. Ndiraya left Mhondoro in 2018, won a championship with Simba Bhora last season, and claimed Coach of the Year.
Now the three are back together at a Mabvuku side chasing silverware on two fronts. Scottland sit second on the league table with 53 points, two behind leaders Simba Bhora, and bookmakers see the title being settled in the final six games. But that’s not their main focus this week.
The trio are locked in memories of that 2016 Chibuku magic as they gear up for Sunday’s quarter-final against Highlanders at Barbourfields.
“Obviously those (memories) are some of the things you get to think about when going into crucial battles like the one against Highlanders which is coming on Sunday.
“Scottland are newcomers and in a way that puts off a lot of pressure on your shoulders when going into big games like this. Without pressure, you get to do things right and everything just starts to come along. I think that’s what happened back in 2016. We had no pressure whatsoever but we had a group with a lot of ambition. I think we have just that in our team right now,” said Ndiraya.
Still, he admits that expectation comes with the territory. Organisers have even hiked the general entry fee to US$5 to match the game’s high profile.
“The weight of expectation from our side, given the general status of our team and the profile we have built, is always huge,” Ndiraya said. “We cannot necessarily say we have no pressure going into that match, no. We have a profile as well and that makes the match one of the biggest across the calendar.
“We know what we are supposed to do and that’s what we are preparing. Highlanders is Highlanders. They are big and intimidating, especially at Barbourfields. That means we have to be at our best to try and get past them. We are definitely aware that the match on Sunday will be very tough for both teams. Hopefully we will go with our A-Game and try to proceed past those 90 minutes.”
Chadya has unfinished Chibuku business. After the 2016 win he twice reached the final, losing once to Highlanders.
“Hopefully we will come out good. That is the aim and that is the dream. We face Highlanders and we all know what they are capable of doing,” he said. “For me, yes I get to think about the 2016 memories and they inspire me a lot in this same competition. The password is hard work. We hope to win against Highlanders and we take it up from there but we are not thinking about anything else beyond Highlanders’ match.”
Dzvukamanja shares the same hunger. Winning the same trophy he lifted in his debut season would cap his return to domestic football, but first Scottland must eliminate Bosso.
