Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
PREMIERSHIP newcomers Scottland have claimed the title of Kings of Harare in their maiden season in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League but can they transform themselves into the champions of Zimbabwe?
Their 3-1 victory over Herentals at Rufaro on Saturday gave them the title of Kings of the Kapital which was held by the Students last year.
With eight matches remaining, the 2025 title race looks set to go to the wire with reigning champions and current leaders Simba Bhora fighting it out with Scottland.
And, with the destiny of the title looking likely to be decided on the final day, Scottland have an early title of being the best team in Harare for the 2025 season as they have already accumulated 16 points from seven matches.
There are five teams in in the capital this season, including Scottland, CAPS United, Yadah, Dynamos and Herentals and each club will play eight Harare derbies.
At seven matches, Scottland have played the most Harare derbies this season and will have their final fixture against Dynamos at Rufaro on Saturday.
They have accumulated 16 points after five victories against CAPS United (2-0), Herentals twice (1-0 and 3-1), Dynamos (1-0) and Yadah (1-0), a draw with Yadah (1-1) while the other match ended in defeat against CAPS United (0-1).
No other team from the capital can surpass 16 points with the two rounds of Harare derbies left for each.
The highest possible tally is 14 points for second-placed CAPS United, who have eight points from six matches, and still have to face Dynamos and Herentals in the remaining eight match days.
CAPS United have won twice, against Yadah (1-0) and Scottland (1-0), drawn twice against Herentals (1-1) and Dynamos (1-1), and losing twice against Scottland (0-2) and Yadah (1-2).
Yadah are third with seven points from six matches after winning twice against Herentals (1-0) and CAPS United (2-1), drawing with Scottland (1-1) and losing against Dynamos (0-1), Scottland (0-1) and CAPS United (0-1).
Herentals have only one Harare derby win this season, a 2-0 victory over Dynamos, while the other five matches yielded two draws against Dynamos (0-0) and CAPS United (1-1) and lost twice against Scottland (0-1 and 1-3).
Dynamos are bottom of the Harare Derbies standings with five points from six matches after victory against Yadah (1-0), draws against Herentals (0-0) and CAPS United (1-1) while losing against Scottland (0-1).
On Saturday Dynamos will be out to maintain their winning run under coach, Kelvin Kaindu. Sunday’s 2-0 win over Greenfuel moved Dynamos closer to the safety zone and they might actually move out of relegation this weekend if they win and other results go their way.
A win for Dynamos will take them to 28 points, which will be good enough to pull them out of the relegation zone if results for Triangle United, Manica Diamonds, Yadah and Greenfuel go their way.
Greenfuel, who have 27 points from 26 matches, host reigning champions and current leaders Simba Bhora at the Greenfuel Arena on Saturday while Manica Diamonds travel to bottom-placed Kwekwe United and Triangle United are at home to Herentals.
Yadah have a tough task away to Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.
So, Dynamos need three of the teams on 27 and 28 points to lose their matches this weekend while they win against Scottland at Rufaro on Saturday.
Kaindu and his Dynamos squad were in the stands on Saturday as Scottland beat Herentals 3-1 at Rufaro and will probably have an idea of how to handle the title chasers.
The former Highlanders coach watched as Knowledge Musona started for Scottland for the first time since his move during the mid-season transfer window.
Musona scored his first goal in the domestic Premiership, firing home a free-kick from long range.
It was also the first time that the Musona brothers featured in the starting line-up for Scottland with captain Walter supplying the assist for the third goal scored by Terrence Dzvukamanja.
Scottland have won all the seven league matches since their last defeat -a home loss (0-1) against CAPS United at Rufaro last month in an impressive run that took them from fifth place and 12 points behind leaders to second place and just a point off the summit.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya has claimed wins against former champions and his ex-paymasters, Ngezi Platinum Stars (2-1), Highlanders (2-1), Bikita Minerals (0-1), Yadah (1-0), FC Platinum (5-2), ZPC Kariba (2-1) and Herentals (3-1) for the longest winning run in the Premiership this season.
Another four-match winning run will put Ndiraya in contention for the August Coach of the Month award, which he is currently battling with Joel Luphahla, whose Simba Bhora has won their three league matches in August ahead of the tricky tie at Greenfuel.
Mathew Masinge