Online Reporter
Ray Bande in MUTARE
IN a way, this felt like home for Castle Lager Premiership champions Scottland.
The glitz and glamour of their trophy parade reverberated through the Eastern Highlands on Saturday as Mutare came to a standstill to watch the party unfold on its streets.
Such is the vibe that this club have brought into domestic football that even those who have never been part of the game’s discussion, including on social media, have joined the bandwagon.
The colourful event was a throwback to the day when the same team came to Mutare for their Castle Lager Premiership battle against Manica Diamonds.
The city was buzzing and Sakubva hosted its biggest crowd, something which was last seen many years ago.
The trophy parade saw the PSL champions starting the festivities at Holiday Inn Hotel, which was the meeting point for most people, before the outdoor party switched to Mutare Polytechnic College via Hebert Chitepo Main Street.
From Mutare Polytechnic, the convoy of sleek SUVs proceeded to the sprawling suburbs of Sakubva, Dangamvura and Chikanga
The procession was led by the Zimbabwe Prisons Band, which entertained the thousands of fans who were chanting various songs and carrying placards, most of them branded ‘Scotland FC Says No To Drugs’.
The party then proceeded to Sekuru Jeremiah Sakupwanya’s farm, on the outskirts of the city, where a cast of high-profile local musicians, including Jah Prayzah, took turns to entertain the crowd into the early hours of the morning.
Sekuru Sakupwanya is the father of Scottland president Scott.
The businessman’s parents then also posed with the trophy in their house in the company of outgoing coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
Scottland started the victory parade in Harare and they have now come to Mutare, which is the main city in the home province of the club president.
The club have said the party will be taken to all the main cities, which means it will roll into Gweru and Bulawayo.
Scottland have enjoyed a dream start to life in the Premiership after winning the league and providing the Coach of the Year, the runner-up in the Soccer Stars of the Year and the breakout youthful player. Joseph Kaitano, a Mutare-based Scotland fan, said:
“We missed such entertaining activities in our football. It adds value to the game. I would really like to thank the owners of this club for giving us something to cheer our souls.”
Manica Diamonds supporter, Calvin Mapangisana, said:
“Even though I am not a Scottland fan, I found time to be part of this event because of its entertainment value.
“I just wish other clubs would do the same. Even though this is off the field, it gives people the impetus to then go and watch football matches simply because of such unforgettable entertaining experiences.”
