Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CHAMPIONS Scottland have never been shy to make noise, but yesterday they went for the loudest statement of them all, bringing Zimbabwe football icon Peter Ndlovu into their dressing room as team manager.
The Mabvuku club, fresh from a Premier Soccer League title in their first season at the top, are now building for the CAF Champions League, and they have decided the next step isn’t just about buying goals, it’s about buying authority.
Scottland’s title run last season was powered by heavy investment, with the club spending big in pre-season and again in the mid-season window to turn their debut campaign into a championship march.
The headline move came in July last year when they pulled off what many in the local game didn’t think was possible, landing former Warriors captain Knowledge Musona, a player who had never featured in the domestic premiership and still had interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. Musona’s arrival, alongside the influence of Aces Youth Soccer Academy, brought a new layer to Scottland’s project, and inside the club there is a clear belief that experience and elite habits are what separate a title challenge from a title win.
Even the coaching bench was not spared from the club’s ambition, with Scottland bringing in Norman Mapeza, one of the country’s most decorated coaches, despite Tonderai Ndiraya being the man who delivered the crown. Mapeza has since been quietly reshaping the squad, trimming players he doesn’t see fitting his football and tightening areas he feels could be exposed at continental level, where mistakes don’t get forgiven and reputations don’t protect you.
But while last year’s recruitment was a full blown shopping spree that included Khama Billiat, Walter Musona, Lynoth Chikuhwa and Nelson Chadya, this window has been more controlled, more deliberate, and aimed at building a team that can survive the pressure of Africa.
Still, Scottland were always going to land another headline, and that headline is Ndlovu, the former Zimbabwe captain, ex-Coventry City forward and a player many still call the greatest Zimbabwe has produced.
Zimpapers Sports Hub understands Ndlovu finalised his move at Scottland’s offices in Mandara late yesterday afternoon, with paperwork expected to be signed to formalise his appointment.
A source within the club confirmed the deal was done and explained the changes it brings to the club’s leadership structure.
“I can confirm that the deal is firmly in place. Negotiations have actually been concluded and Peter Ndlovu is actually at the office where he will sign the deal,” said the source.
“He will be the team manager, replacing Tawanda Chidzidzi who has now been elevated into being the club vice-chairman.
“The deal was always coming. Scottland started courting Peter Ndlovu last year. At first Peter wasn’t forthcoming but eventually he started showing interest.
“He then agreed to talk and the negotiations concluded recently. The deal is now in place.
“Everyone is excited. Peter Ndlovu is expected to add value to the status of the team.”
Ndlovu’s arrival also comes with a strong continental stamp, having worked in management at Mamelodi Sundowns, one of the biggest clubs in Southern Africa.
He was part of the leadership set-up when the Pretoria giants won the CAF Champions League in 2016. For Scottland, the hope is simple, that the winning habits from that Sundowns era, and the weight of Ndlovu’s name in African football spaces, can give their CAF Champions League campaign an edge that money alone can’t buy.
Peter Tanyanyiwa