Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR Ronald Pfumbidzai, the scene unfolded like a dream at Ascot Stadium on Sunday.
After Israel Nhevera’s final whistle, confirming Scottland’s championship glory, celebrations erupted.
And the fullback froze in pure elation.
His teammates swarmed the pitch as they held coach Tonderai Ndiraya aloft, dousing him in champagne. The rain poured to add to that, but the players didn’t care, dancing and singing in the down-pour.
Pfumbidzai finally sprang to life, dashing over to the media crew and snatching the mic from their hands. “I’ve got two Premier Soccer League titles now!” he bellowed, his voice carried across the stadium.
It was a moment of sweet déjà vu for Pfumbidzai, who had first tasted glory at Ascot seven years ago. Back in 2016, he had inspired CAPS United to the league title, the Green Machine overcoming a stubborn Chapungu side 1-0 to win on the final day of the season.
Pfumbidzai’s masterful performance in that game whose solitary strike came off the boot of Simba Nhivi was telling.
That wasn’t the only game he brought his A-game to the table; he was evergreen the whole season and deservedly earned his spot as second runner-up for Soccer Star of the Year.
And on Sunday he had done it all over again with Scottland. “Ascot’s my lucky stadium,” he retorted.
“I told my teammates to be disciplined and focused, to play it cool and be patient. We knew Kwekwe United would be hungry, but we were ready for them.”
And Pfumbidzai was on fire, delivering a virtuoso performance that included a glancing header off Knowledge Musona’s free-kick, putting Scottland 3-0 up and virtually securing the game.
The match may not have been the coronation ceremony, but Pfumbidzai didn’t care — fate had ordained that he would be crowned champion at Ascot once more after Scottland’s final game of the season against TelOne.
He said: “This stadium’s my favourite hunting ground. I first tasted glory here, and now I’ll be crowned champion for the second time. I’m over the moon to have played a key role in this team.”
Pfumbidzai is one of the only two survivors alongside Emmanuel Saidi from the Scottland squad that won Premiership promotion from the Northern Region Soccer League last year.
“I salute the club management and technical team for seeing some value in me.
“I won the NRSL championship last year and this time the league title. I can’t be more grateful,” he added.
Pfumbidzai joined Scottland during the mid-season transfer window last year and the club never lost a match for 19 games that he played as he helped them earn promotion.
Ndiraya described him as “a good player who gives us a lot in terms of balance.”
