Online Reporter
Sports Reporters
THE strong bond between the residents of Mabvuku and Scottland, who made history as the first club from the suburb to be crowned PSL champions, was on public display yesterday.
Hundreds of Mabvuku residents filled the streets of this eastern suburb as they celebrated Scottland’s finest hour and stunning transformation into the champions of club football in this country.
Until their emergence in Division One last season Scottland, who claim that they were formed in 2023, were just a franchise which was known in their home suburb.
But, in the last two years, thanks to successive league championships in Division One and the PSL, and a huge investment into some of the best players on the domestic football scene, the Scotts have turned themselves into the kings of the kraal.
They made history along the way – becoming the first club to win the PSL in their debut year in the top-flight league in 41 years.
Black Rhinos had been the last to do that in 1984.
Scottland are also the first club to win the championship, in their first year in the top-flight league, since the PSL replaced the Super League.
In a way, the people of Mabvuku have watched from a distance as their club powered to the league championship with a seven-point cushion.
With Scottland playing their league matches at Rufaro, it meant that the majority of the residents of Mabvuku did not get the chance to watch their club in action.
However, the Scottland owners want to change all that and they believe their investment into building a stadium in Mabvuku will see them finally playing their matches at home.
The celebrations yesterday, where the players and club officials took turns to display the championship trophy from an open-top bus which only arrived in Harare this week, showed a deep connection between the Mabvuku residents and their team.
What was on display was true love.
Mabvuku has a history of producing some of the best players to grace our football fields – the late Joe Mugabe, Brenna Msiska, the Mugeyi twins – Wilfred and William – Usman Misi and the late Oswin Kwaramba are all Boys from Mabvuku.
While Wilfred and William helped Black Aces to win the league championship in 1992, this was different from the suburb celebrating its own football club winning the league title.
Scottland top-scorer Tymon Machope and one of the team’s star players, Khama Billiat, received the biggest roar when they raised the trophy.
The Scottland party also rolled through the Harare CBD and Mbare.
Some of the Scottland players, who are on national duty, were missing from the action.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who became the first coach to guide two different clubs to their maiden league titles in successive seasons, was also missing from the action.
Ndiraya left the club soon after securing the championship and has been replaced by Norman Mapeza.
Club vice-chairman Musa Gwasira acknowledged the absence of the coach and some members of his team when he addressed fands.
He thanked them for steering Scottland to the 2025 Premier Soccer League crown.
The club intend to take their victory parade to other parts of the country.
There were bleeps here and there – the parade started late and some of the stars were missing.
But, for a club which was virtually non-existent two years ago, all that can be forgiven.
