Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND didn’t look like champions when the 2025 Premiership kicked off.
Even with a star studded squad and a strong pre-season, the Mabvuku outfit stumbled through the opening fixtures, short of chemistry and conviction.
Their first game at Rufaro, a laboured win over Triangle, was a wake up call. Munashe Bamara ran riot down the flanks, unsettling big names like Walter Musona, Khama Billiat, Vassili Kawe, and Frederick Ansah-Botchway. The result flattered them. The next nine matches confirmed what the eye could already see, they weren’t yet a team.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya, however, refused to panic. A quiet conversation with Triangle’s Luke Masomere after that opener gave him perspective.
“The opening game was a reality check,” Ndiraya recalled. “Masomere told us to focus and keep our eyes on the ball, and we’d win the Premiership title. Those words stuck with me, and they inspired us when things got tough.”
A top eight finish had been the club’s realistic target, but Ndiraya, fresh from winning the league with Simba Bhora, wasn’t settling for that.
“We had an incredible pre-season in Zambia, thanks to the investment from our owner Pedzai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya,” he said. “We came back home prepared, but our start was shaky. However, I knew we had a strong team, and once we hit the 10 game mark, things started to fall into place.”
That turning point came midway through the season when Sakupwanya opened his cheque book again. The arrivals of Knowledge Musona, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Moses Shidolo, Mafios Chihweta, and Khuda Muyaba transformed the dressing room.
“Those five players changed everything for us,” said Ndiraya. “They brought a different level of stability, leadership and quality. We started winning games, and I remember our seven match winning streak that took us close to the top.”
Among the new signings, Musona stood out. His influence stretched beyond goals or assists, he brought calm and authority when the pressure mounted. Their decisive victory over Manica Diamonds at Rufaro announced Scottland’s real intent. From then, they managed momentum, match by match, until the finish line.
Ndiraya credited squad depth for sustaining their run.
“We had quality in every position, and we had to devise ways to keep them hungry, starting with our goalkeepers,” he said.
“Anyone who lost a match wouldn’t be involved in the next game. It worked wonders for our energy levels and zeal.”
Centreback Kevin Moyo, who missed only one of their 32 matches, agreed.
“The rotation has been fantastic,” Moyo said. “You knew you had to be at your best to retain your place in the team. It worked wonders for us and here we are.”
