LIFE HAS NEVER BEEN THIS GOOD FOR DIV ONE FOOTBALLERS

THERE has never been a battle in Division One like the one we are seeing between MWOS and Scottland for a place in the Premiership next season.

It’s a titanic one and, from what we see, it will spill into the final day of the campaign.

MWOS, who only came into Division One last year, are leading the race by the tightest of margins.

They have a one point lead even though Scottland have a game whose fate will be decided in the boardroom.

Initial reports had suggested that Scottland, who only came into Division One at the start of this campaign, were awarded maximum points for their abandoned league match against Karoi United, which was deadlocked at 1-1 by the time it ended prematurely.

The referee claimed he was struck by a missile and that meant the game could not continue anymore.

The match commissioner’s report condemned the behaviour of the home fans and blamed them for the incident which led to the abandonment of the game.

Karoi United officials argue that the referee dramatised the incident and was only struck by a ball thrown from the crowd by a fan.

The tight race has been pregnant with controversy amid some match-fixing claims that some teams are being paid to throw away matches.

However, none of the claims has been backed with evidence to prompt the Division One leadership to act.

But, that doesn’t take away the point that the championship race should be run in an environment where integrity is everything.

That MWOS and Sottland have been the best two teams in the league is not questionable.

They are both led by coaches who, at some stage in their careers, were in charge of Dynamos — Lloyd Mutasa and Genesis Mangombe.

What is also not questionable is that the titanic battle for the championship has breathed life into football in this country.

The interest in this battle has been massive and we have seen the big crowds which have been following these two teams.

We don’t want to see what is happening in our Premiership where there has been spectator flight and most games are played in virtually empty stadiums.

We want to see life in our stadiums.

The incentives, which are being thrown at the players, are big and this is good for our football.

Last week, Dynamos players downed tools as they pressed their leaders to pay them their outstanding bonuses and allowances.

Across the city, at the Scottland training ground, their colleagues in Division One were being paid about US$2 000 each.

At the weekend, the biggest incentives, in the history of local football, were showered and dangled to the players.

Each Scottland player will be rewarded with Toyota Aqua cars if they win their next match against Herentals Under-20.

On Sunday, five Scottland players received Toyota Aqua cars for their 3-1 win over Harare City.

The cars are being donated by Harare businessman, Sir Wicknell Chivayo, who is a friend of Scottland owner Scott Sakupwanya.