Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HISTORY could be beckoning for Tonderai Ndiraya and his Scottland in the Castle Lager Premiership this season.
The Mabvuku team, who are making their maiden bow in the top-flight league, are firmly in the picture to win the title.
With 37 points to their name, Scottland are only six behind leaders Simba Bhora with 13 games before the season ends.
And should they go on and land the ultimate prize, Ndiraya will then become the first coach in the history of the Premiership to win back-to-back titles with different teams.
He won the crown with Simba Bhora last season.
And, his side will finally emulate the record set by Black Rhinos 41 years ago, when they became the first debutants to win the championship, in 1984.
Ndiraya doesn’t have any pressure to win the championship as his bosses tasked him to finish the season in the top five.
Rather than relaxing him, this could inspire Ndiraya to aim for yet another victory lap for the second season running.
But he acknowledges the close competition prevailing in the Premier Soccer League.
“Yeah, I am aware of that (record) but I have never let that define my path as an individual and for my team as well.
“What I can say is that it will be a great feeling for me to be able to win the title for the second consecutive year with two different teams.
“I mean, that will be so amazing. We won the title with Simba Bhora last year in only our second season in the league.
“Not so many teams have managed to do so in history.
“I am very proud of that achievement. I am in charge of newboys Scottland and I can only imagine what it will mean if we managed to win the league in our first season.
“I remember that was done way back in 1984 by Black Rhinos and no other team has managed to do so since.
“But truth be said, that will not be easy. We have so many good teams competing at the top. We have Simba Bhora, MWOS, TelOne, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum all within reach of the championship.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and see what happens.”
With MWOS losing part of the momentum that saw them going for 16 games without tasting defeat and Simba Bhora set to be disrupted by the demands of the CAF Champions League, Ndiraya and his men can only keep their fingers crossed.
They will make the long trip to Gibbo in Triangle for a date against Bikita Minerals tomorrow.
Their last sojourn at the same venue yielded a single point when they were held to a goalless draw by Triangle one month ago.
“Like what I always say, every team is now very difficult to face,” said Ndiraya.
“Everyone is fighting to meet certain targets. That makes it very difficult to face anyone.
“Bikita Minerals are a good team. There is absolutely no doubt about that. What’s needed is maximum concentration and winning against Bikita will mean a lot for us.”
Mathew Masinge