Online Reporter
Bruce Chikuni,
Sports Reporter
THERE is a misconception that Scottland are the biggest spenders in the history of the domestic Premiership in terms of the players they signed for this season.
Well, the truth is that FC Platinum splashed more money than the Scotts.
Despite attracting domestic big names in their debut season, Scottland have not matched the amount spent by FC Platinum in the 2011 campaign, when they went on a shopping spree.
The four-time champions announced their arrival by spending US$65,000 on Joel “Josta” Ngodzo, which remains a record signing in the local league.
In the same transfer period, they signed Ngodzo’s brother, Zephaniah, for US$35,000.
Billiat arrived as a free agent while Musona was signed from Simba Bhora.
This means Scottland paid less for this duo than FC Platinum paid for Ngodzo alone.
Ngodzo remains the most expensive player in local football history, at least for now.
The amount spent on Billiat is even less than what Zephaniah received when he joined FC Platinum.
In the same 2011 campaign, when the late Rahman Gumbo was unveiled as the new coach, FC Platinum signed six players who had featured on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar the previous season.
The players were Norman Maroto, Charles Sibanda, Bhekimpiko Ncube, Benjamini Marere, Menard Mupera and Ngodzo.
Although the financial statements for these players were not made public, sources at FC Platinum confirmed that each signing was between US$15,000 and US$25,000.
Maroto joined FC Platinum as a proven goal scorer, having won the Golden Boot after scoring 22 goals the previous season.
But, he left FC Platinum having scored just one goal the following season.
A similar trend appears to have affected Lynoth Chikuhwa, who joined Scottland after winning the Golden Boot last season.
He has since been loaned to Chicken Inn after a poor showing in the first round, registering only one goal.
Scottland also signed six players from the league’s best XI, including Billiat, Musona, Kingsley Mureremba, Godknows Murwira, Tymon Machope and Chikuhwa.
