Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TONDERAI NDIRAYA says Scottland should be as relentless as they can if they are to have a shout on what will be an historic Premiership title for the Mabvuku team.
The Scottland gaffer is poised to make history as the first ever coach to win the league title with two different teams in consecutive seasons having won the honours with Simba Bhora last year.
Scottland will also become the first team in 41 years to win the championship in their maiden dance with the top-flight league.
But they will have to put their heads on the block to see this through.
“Mabviravira” were knocked off their sails by Dynamos at Rufaro last Saturday but remained second with only two points separating them and leaders Simba Bhora.
Further down, MWOS, TelOne, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Herentals all stand a good chance to hit the finish line first as the marathon enters the last seven rounds of fixtures.
FC Platinum are also rank outsiders.
Ndiraya, who has previously come closer to winning the title with Ngezi Platinum in 2018 before finally nailing it last year, knows just how delicate the final third of the season can be.
Speaking about his team’s prospects, Ndiraya said:
“I think there is a good cushion between us and the teams that are following. But maybe two games and that is not much if you ask me.
“You can’t quickly rule out the other teams that are coming.
“It’s still a long journey, 21 points (to play for) is a lot of football. There will be so many twists and turns. What’s important in football is consistency.”
While it’s still too close to call, Scottland can get a huge hand from the tools they have in their storeroom.
With vast experience across players like Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat, Walter Musona, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Tymon Machope, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Nelson Chadya, Talbert Shumba and Peter Muduhwa and expertise from such players as Mafious Chihweta, Michael Tapera and Kingsley Mureremba, Scottland have every reason to believe.
“I think we have the experience and the expertise to navigate the remainder of the terrain. “We will take it step by step. The next game in football is very important,” said Ndiraya.
Five of his players are currently away on national duty with the Warriors in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers but that’s no source of worry for the former Dynamos mentor.
He added: “I think we have depth in the squad despite having five players in the national team. We will assess them when they come back.
“If they are tired, then we will have the depth coming in handy. We will fight with everything that we have and see what happens.”
Yet Ndiraya is not under any pressure to deliver the title to John Tapedza Street in Mabvuku as his club bosses are already pleasantly surprised on the progress the newboys have made.
Scottland authorities had only demanded that Ndiraya’s team must make an impact in their first year in the Premiership, which his charges have since achieved.
