NDIRAYA CREDITS SCOTT

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

TONDERAI NDIRAYA is closer to writing his own piece of beautiful history but the Scottland coach has reserved a huge chunk of the praise to club president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya.

Scottland are on the brink of winning the league title to replicate Black Rhinos’ 1984 record when they won the championship in their maiden season.

The Mabvuku team need just four points in the last three games to secure the historic feat.

That will make Ndiraya the first coach to win the league honours in two successive seasons with two different teams having delivered the championship with Simba Bhora last year.

Scottland moved to within touching distance of the crown when they beat MWOS 1-0 at Rufaro on Saturday to open a six-point gap between them and second-placed Simba Bhora, who lost 2-1 at Ngezi Platinum Stars.

And for all his industry and grit in getting a team out of his galaxy of stars, the former Dynamos gaffer has given it to his boss for helping out in bringing quality and depth in both the pre-season and mid-season windows.

Ndiraya is not getting ahead of himself though as he knows he first has to pick those four points before he can activate full celebratory mode.

But given the odds, Scottland could as well be all but champions-in-waiting.

Yet they never really looked like a team that would be in this position due to a lack of sharpness and consistency.

Their determination was not in doubt though after they shipped out all but two of the players who helped the team into Premiership promotion last year, bringing in star signings like Khama Billiat, Kevin Moyo, Peter Muduhwa, Walter Musona and Kingsley Mureremba.

The club went further to galvanise the ship even more halfway through the marathon, taking on board players like Knowledge Musona, Mafios Chihweta and Terrence Dzvukamanja.

And Ndiraya credits such investment as the key driver to what the club has become right now.

Ndiraya said, “I think what got us to where we are today is, of course the investment that was done in the team by the Honourable MP Pedzai “Scott” Sarukwanya. I think we must give credit for the investment that he made in bringing the team together.

“The quality that I spoke about in that summation of the match that we played today (on Saturday), one of those players that made the difference in the game is Knowledge Musona. Knowledge and so on. He didn’t just score. Knowledge has been very key for us in the past games.

“I think the past nine, 10 games that he has played for us. He organises the youngsters and then of course leading from the front.

“I think that’s what got us in the front. But not just him. I think those that we brought during the mid-season transfer really changed things for us. And all that was done by the club president Sakupwanya himself. So we brought in quite a number of players. I think from the squad that came, that won the Division One Championship last year, we were only left with two. Ronald Pfumbidzai and Emmanuel Saidi.

“That’s why I keep referring to him because he made our job easier as the technical team.

“When you have quality then you know that your work becomes easy and I’ve always said that football is played by quality more than anything else.

“You may run the whole day but if you don’t then have the quality to win your matches, it’ll be difficult, so this is us; this has been us, and then, of course our fans have been behind us throughout.

“No one in some quarters expected us to be in the position that we are in but I think if we had probably carried on with the players that we had in the first round it was going to be difficult for us barring what I’ve mentioned but I think the investment that was done for the final lap of games was very huge and that has really taken us to where we are today. We are a team who are sitting comfortably on top of the log with a difference of six points and three games remaining; I mean what else can you ask for? What else can you ask for?”

Saturday’s win mirrored the season for Scottland where the team didn’t get to rain goals despite dominating their opponents.

But Ndiraya doesn’t care as long as his charges can protect the points on the board.

“Yeah, I think what is important in football, in the campaign, are three points. Of course, you want to win six nil, seven nil. That can do good for your goal difference.

“But I think what is important are three points. And if we can score one and manage the one and get three points, I’m really satisfied as a coach,” added Ndiraya.

“Of course, it’s always a cause for concern.

“You always want to score more goals, but when they don’t come, what can you do?

“You just have to accept what is there and move on. I would not want to go further, but I think I mentioned the issue of energy, energy levels and all. Yeah, the issue of energy levels.

“So you really want to look at us and what we have and then ask the question that you could crucify your players for not scoring five. But if they can score one and manage that, one, I’m happy and good as a coach. But of course, you want to score three, four, or five goals. You want to do that, but if it’s not their day.”

Ndiraya said he will feel happy for himself if Scottland end up being champions after his delicate decision to take up the post at the ambitious club.

Of course, he wasn’t given the target to win it this season, but he revealed that he saw a window of possibility to finally win the championship with a league debutant after failing to do so twice with Ngezi Platinum and Simba Bhora.

Ndiraya was in charge when Ngezi Platinum made their bow in 2016 and also carried the torch in Simba Bhora’s first season in the top-flight two years ago.

He managed to finish sixth with Ngezi Platinum but he won the Chibuku Super Cup with them that same year while it only took him the second season to win the title with Simba Bhora.

And he is now on the cusp of finally winning it with a debutant.

He said, “Yeah, firstly I think I took up this job knowing fully aware that there was so much pressure that goes with it, but I have always said that I got experience from my days and years at Ngezi Platinum Stars. I think it was the same thing when you take up the reins of a new team, especially a team that is coming from Division One, it’s really difficult, you know. As a coach it’s really difficult.

“But I just thought, no, let me take it up, but then to come and fight for the title in the first season was just unthinkable. I have challenged myself to win it, that’s why I came here anyway.”