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Langton Nyakwenda, Zimpapers Sports Hub
PRESSURE is starting to simmer at Scottland and it’s not because of a crisis, but rather the weight of sky-high expectations.
When Tonderai Ndiraya walked into Mabviravira at the turn of the year, he was hailed as the man with the magic touch. After all, he had just masterminded Simba Bhora’s fairytale league title run, crowning them kings of Zimbabwean football in only their second season in the topflight.
That accomplishment made him one of the hottest coaching properties in the country and Scottland, freshly promoted and flush with ambition, swooped quickly.
They built a team for the crown. Ndiraya was handed a war chest, and with it came six of last season’s Soccer Star finalists including Golden Boot winner Lynoth Chikuhwa and the mercurial Khama Billiat. The message was loud: Scottland weren’t here to make up the numbers.
Seven games into their debut Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign, though, murmurs of concern are creeping in.
Twelve points from a possible 21. Fifth on the log. Five points behind surprise leaders MWOS going into Match Day Eight. It’s respectable but is it enough for a club this stacked?
Some believe it’s not. But Ndiraya, ever the tactician, is urging calm in the storm.
“It’s still early days,” he told Zimpapers Sports Hub in a sit-down interview on Thursday. “It’s a marathon 27 games to go. There will be twists and turns, and a lot will change between now and maybe Week 17.”
Those are the words of a coach who has seen this script before and flipped it.
At this stage last season, his Simba Bhora side had managed just a point more than Scottland’s current tally. They also suffered two early losses, Scottland have only lost once so far. What followed was a run of five wins in eight games that laid the foundation for a title-winning surge, capped with two games to spare.
If anyone understands the rhythm of a PSL campaign, it’s Ndiraya.
Scottland’s recent results suggest a team still finding its chemistry. A gritty 1-1 draw with four-time champions FC Platinum on Easter Monday followed another stalemate against Yadah both at Rufaro. Before that, they had steam-rolled Bikita Minerals 3-0 in a performance that briefly hinted at their full potential.
“We assembled quality players,” Ndiraya explained, “but we are still in the process of getting the team to understand each other.”
It’s no small challenge. Star power doesn’t always translate to immediate cohesion especially in a league as tactical and unforgiving as the PSL. Building a unit out of individual brilliance takes time, and Ndiraya believes his machine will only begin to purr after Week 10.
Coincidentally, that’s the point at which Simba Bhora began to hit their stride last year.
That is why tomorrow’s away fixture against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga carries more weight than just three points. It’s a test of resilience, character and belief.
Scottland’s squad, on paper, is a juggernaut. Walter Musona, Tymon Machope, Kingsley Mureremba, Godknows Murwira all elite talents. The midfield boasts Ghanaian playmaker Frederick Ansa Botchway, while the spine is reinforced by veterans Tichaona Chipunza, Peter Muduhwa and Kelvin Moyo.
But talent alone doesn’t win titles.
“Like I said before,” Ndiraya reiterated, “we anticipated a very difficult first seven games because a team of stars takes some time to gel. We are in the process of making sure we build an efficient machine, one that I believe will start firing from Week 10.”
At 47, Ndiraya knows football isn’t about how you start; it’s how you finish.
He already has a Chibuku Super Cup (2016) on his CV, and has coached two of the biggest brands in Zimbabwean football Dynamos and Simba Bhora. Now, he’s at the helm of what could be the next big thing.
For now, the jury is still out. The pressure is real. The spotlight is harsh. But the story is far from over.
Scottland’s million-dollar dream remains intact even if it’s off to a modest start.
Online Reporter