Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NOT many imagined former national team captains Norman Mapeza and Peter Ndlovu in the same dugout, in the local Premiership, years after retiring from the Warriors.
But, that is the reality now.
The two football legends want to combine forces and lead reigning Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Scottland to more glory.
It was Mapeza, who suggested Ndlovu’s name, soon after he was appointed head coach at Mabviravira back in November.
The recommendation was approved by club owner Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya and Ndlovu bounced back into the local Premiership as team manager of Scottland mid-January.
For the first time in the history of the Premiership, Mapeza and Ndlovu will be in the same dugout when Mabviravira clash against Dynamos in the Castle Challenge Cup at Rufaro tomorrow.
“They (club owners) want this club to go far.
“That’s why I am here.
“That’s why I also asked Peter (Ndlovu) to come and join us,” revealed Mapeza, in his first face to face meeting with the media since joining Scottland on November 28.
The former Zimbabwe coach won two Castle Challenge Cup titles at FC Platinum and is now aiming for a third one with Scottland.
Beyond the Castle Challenge Cup, Mapeza is also expected to retain the league title and perform decently in the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Nonetheless, the three-time championship winner feels loved at Scottland, where he has reunited with a couple of players he coached at the national team and FC Platinum.
It was Mapeza who handed Knowledge Musona his Warriors debut back in 2011.
He also worked with Khama Billiat at national team level.
Mapeza also nurtured Walter Musona at FC Platinum and gave him a platform to relaunch his career when things didn’t go according to plan at Polokwane City.
He also coached Panashe Mutimbanyoka at Pure Platinum Play.
Above all, Mapeza is happy to be back in the capital after spending almost 12 years in Zvishavane with FC Platinum.
His last job in charge of a capital-based club was back in 2008, when he won the league championship with Monomotapa.
“I can say I am someone who is really lucky. I have worked with a number of these guys before.
“They know me personally,” said Mapeza.
He added: “They know exactly what I expect from them.
“I am really happy because they have been helping a lot.”
Scottland started their preseason on January 8.
They spent a week in Harare before flying to South Africa and Eswatini.
In Eswatini the Zimbabwean champions lost 0-1 to Nsingizini Hotspurs.
Now they are set for tomorrow’s potentially bruising battle at Rufaro against a Dynamos side who stunned them 3-2 in a league encounter at the same venue last year.
“I want to thank Honourable Scott Sakupwanya for arranging such a pre-season camp during which we had the opportunity to know each other.
“The guys have been doing very well.
“If you look at senior players like Musona and Billiat, they have been pushing other players,” Mapeza said.
Mapeza has now clocked 93 days in charge of Scottland and he is feeling the love from the executive, players and some fans.
“I will start with the top hierarchy of the team, the welcome they gave me when I came here was fantastic.
“The players respect me, they are showing me love. The working environment so far is fantastic.”
Apart from veterans Musona and Billiat, Mapeza can also bank on the experience of Terrence Dzvukamanja and top scorer Tymon Machope.
Scottland have also retained some key players including 2025 Soccer Star of the Year runner-up Kevin Moyo, Kingsley Mureremba, Godknows Murwira, Moses Shidholo, Peter Muduhwa and Albert Manenji.
“You can tell the boys are really looking forward to the game on Sunday.
“Football is all about competition. But, look, it’s never easy playing against Dynamos.
“They look like a very competitive side. Any football game is not easy.”
On coming back to coach a club from Harare he said: “I have been away from my family for quite some years but I can’t complain because Zvishavane was like my second home.
“Even the long period I stayed there tells you everything was fine.
“We had a project, I think maybe 98 percent fulfilled.
“But now I am back here in Harare. It’s a new project. From what I have been discussing with the head of this club, it’s more of the same.
“However, the game on Sunday should not be used to judge us. If we are going to judge ourselves using the game on Sunday, we will lose focus.”
Mapeza says he will be happy if his players give him 60 percent of what they have been doing in training.
“We will just take the games as they come,” he insisted.
“Since joining the club I have been receiving messages from different people. Some of them I don’t even know but they have been wishing me well.
“But it’s going to be bumpy along the way. We just need to do it together,” said Mapeza.
