Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE football kings Scottland will begin their CAF Champions League campaign tomorrow with boots laced and coffers full, after being handed pledges worth over US$1 million by club president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, sponsor Wicknell Chivayo and other stakeholders.
The financial windfall was announced at a Scottland dinner in Harare on Thursday, ahead of their preliminary round tie against Eswatini outfit Nsingizini Hotspurs at the National Sports Stadium.
Sakupwanya pledged US$450 000 for a home win in the first leg first round tie against the Eswatini champions.
Another US$450 000 has been promised for Norman Mapeza and his men if they proceed beyond the first preliminary stage.
Chivayo also put US$500 000 on the table if Scottland retain the Castle Lager PSL title.
In an immediate show of commitment, Sakupwanya handed over US$200 000 to the team as gratitude for their “stellar show” in Wednesday’s goalless draw against FC Platinum at Rufaro — a result that kept Scottland’s defensive record intact.
Ferg Chivayo, younger brother to Wicknell and owner of Division Two side Avellion, added at least US$100 000 to support Scottland’s African adventure.
The pledges take total commitments announced on the night to just over US$1 million, excluding individual performance bonuses.
Sakupwanya also unveiled personal rewards to motivate the squad in the remaining league games as Scottland push to defend their crown.
Goalkeeper Nelson Chadya is one clean sheet away from a life-changing gift, a house worth US$500 000 if he sets a new PSL record.
Standing on 20 clean sheets with eight games to go, Chadya has already equaled the rebranded PSL’s all-time record set by Donovan Bernard in 2024.
On current form, Scottland are the league’s most defensively solid unit, having conceded 10 goals, the fewest in the marathon while scoring 42 times.
Outfield players will pocket US$40 000 for each goal scored in the league run-in, an incentive aimed at turning draws into three points and keeping the title race in Scottland’s hands.
The bonuses signal Sakupwanya’s commitment to have his side defend the domestic title, while also making a serious push on the continental stage.
“These are not empty promises. We want Scottland to fly the Zimbabwe flag high in Africa and to dominate at home,” Sakupwanya said.
“But the bigger picture is that we do not want our local talent to go out there in search of better paying leagues when we have the capacity to improve our own.
“Other sport codes have either been to the World Cup or they have qualified to go but as football we still haven’t and we wonder where we are getting it wrong.”
The Mabvuku-Tafara legislator emphasised that clubs should prioritise player welfare and ensure remuneration is paid on time.
“Perhaps it is because we seem to be exporting more than retaining our talent and we now need to change that because we can afford to.
“Look at the sponsorship that we now have in the top-flight, it is something to build from going forward.”
Sakupwanya added that three planes have been chartered to fly at least 500 fans to Eswatini for the return leg , an unprecedented show of support for a Zimbabwean club in a CAF competition.
In the two-legged CAF games, away goals can be decisive in knockout ties.
Scottland believe that flying fans reduces “home advantage” for opponents and boosts morale for the travelling team.
