Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE final whistle blew at Ngoni Stadium on May 31, confirming a 1–0 win for MWOS over visiting Scottland. Outside, Norton exploded with celebration. But inside the Scottland dressing room, the mood was so tense it could be touched.
No shouting. No fists. Just silence, and resentment so heavy it hung in the air like smoke.
The loss had cost Scottland more than just pride. It cost them a fortune.
Popular businessman Wicknell Chivhayo had dangled a US$100 000 incentive if Scottland triumphed. Prevail Group pledged an additional US$50 000, and Exquisite Cars added US$10 000.
With a potential US$160 000 on the line, the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached side had arrived in Norton chasing more than just bragging rights.
Instead, they left empty-handed and fractured.
At the centre of the simmering frustration was 21-year-old forward Nathan Mutasa. While his teammates sat quietly stewing, Mutasa sat scrolling through his phone, seemingly unfazed by the storm brewing around him.
Many in the room believed that the strongest team had not been fielded. Whispers of interference in squad selection had long existed, but the loss brought those suspicions roaring back to life. Some players were reportedly imposed on Ndiraya by unnamed paymasters, players who, according to their teammates, hadn’t earned their spots. Mutasa’s name was the first on many of their lips.
He had started the match as a striker but delivered a flat performance. According to visuals reviewed by Zimpapers Sports Hub, Mutasa failed to connect crucial passes in the box, didn’t attempt a single shot and left the attacking line toothless.
“The boys are upset; he’s costing us, and it feels like every game just exposes him . . . he’s not ready for big matches,” said an insider.
“It’s always tense when he’s on the team sheet. They feel he hasn’t earned it like the rest, he hasn’t bled for the badge. They feel short-changed.”
The sentiment is no longer a whisper, it’s an undercurrent destabilising the entire camp.
Several players, including Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Michael Tapera, are widely seen as more deserving of starting roles. Talented youngsters like Tadiwa Chakuchichi continue to be overlooked.
Yet, Mutasa’s name keeps appearing. Many believe it’s not merit that keeps him in the line-up, but phone calls made on his behalf.
And the Cosafa Cup drama only added fuel to the fire.
Mutasa was a late addition to Zimbabwe’s squad, reportedly displacing Dynamos midfielder Vusa Ngwenya. When the tournament kicked off, he barely played, just under 10 minutes in Zimbabwe’s final game, after elimination had already been sealed.
“What did the COSAFA coaches Simon Marange and Joel Luphahla see, or not see, that kept Mutasa on the bench in two crucial matches?” fans demanded to know.
Across social media, WhatsApp groups, and football forums, the controversy raged on.
To some, Mutasa is simply a young player caught in a ruthless, politically charged system. But others within the Scottland camp paint a different picture, one where the problem may be closer to home.
Sources reveal that Mutasa’s attitude is breeding contempt. His bragging about “phone calls” securing him game time has soured his relationship with teammates and coaches alike.
“Initially, seniors tried to help him. They were patient. But then he bragged that his playing time was a matter of a phone call,” one teammate disclosed. “That killed the respect.”
“He has a foul attitude. He trains properly only when he feels like it. That’s what’s dividing the squad.”
Coach Ndiraya, who had once publicly backed Mutasa as a passionate young talent, seems to have reached a cross-roads. Earlier in the season, he spoke of the forward’s potential and the need for nurturing.
But following the MWOS loss, Ndiraya refused to comment on Mutasa’s performance. His silence was deafening and telling.
“Mutasa’s entitlement has become dangerous. It’s threatening the spirit of the team,” added another insider, speaking on condition of anonymity.
There is no denying Mutasa’s raw ability. At 21, he has the tools to be great. But attitude counts. And at this stage, his off-field persona risks burying his on-field promise.
He doesn’t have to be the best player on the pitch. But if he embraces the team ethos and dials back the entitlement, he could still become a vital cog in any squad.
Now, as the Premier Soccer League returns from the international break, the spotlight is firmly on him.
Mutasa has a chance to flip the script, not through connections or whispers, but through performances that demand respect.
This is his moment to prove that he’s more than just a product of influence.
That he’s a footballer with heart, discipline, and fight.
Being 21 isn’t an excuse. It’s a window. One that won’t stay open forever.
dyton mupawaenda
Kunzima!***