Online Reporter
WE report elsewhere in this edition that the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between Highlanders and Scottland at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday attracted a paying crowd of slightly over 13000.
This was despite the hiking of entry fees from the usual US$3 to a minimum of US$5 and maximum of US$20.
In the end, Highlanders’ share of the spoils was US$45 000 after paying a lot more to the venue owners, service providers and other stakeholders.
Highlanders have been the Premier Soccer League’s most followed club in terms of stadium, figures and they were always guaranteed a decent crowd.
However, the eventual figures rank among the best for Highlanders in recent years and confirm the influence that Scottland currently has on the game this season.
We report that Scottland’s effect on the local scene got the biggest endorsement when Barbourfields Stadium responded. It was not the numbers on the terraces only, but a decent game of football, refereeing and the superb discipline of the fans of either side.
The match itself was not full of fireworks and this was probably because of the sheer amount of pressure on both camps as the build-up to the game started a fortnight ago when the Scottland president, Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya predicted a 4-0 win for his side in a video that went viral.
It meant that Scottland, despite being the away team, had played a big part in marketing the match despite not getting any cent from the gate revenue.
Towards the weekend, there was a disappointing twist on social media where people started politicising the game and somewhat discouraging those peace-loving football fans to think twice about attending the match.
We are now in an era where social media can easily manipulate processes and, in this case, fan the flames of rivalry and there are some elements that tried to ruin the match.
It got so bad that there was speculation, on social media, that the match had been called off due to fears of violence.
However, when it mattered most both sets of supporters put up a colourful show even though the dominant colours were black and white.
Credit must go to the respective supporters’ associations of both clubs who met on the eve of the match and undertook to promote peace on the day of the match, before and after the clash even though the hosts were coming up against some of their former stars like Peter Muduhwa who captained Scottland on the afternoon.
Events on Sunday was an important lesson to soccer fans that you can still be bitter rivals and when matchday comes, fierce competition and mutual respect can coexist.
It was an important statement on Sunday, and we say thank you to Highlanders supporters, Scottland fans and Bulawayo for setting a standard. Football emerged the biggest winner.
