Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
SCOTTLAND players will get the BIGGEST single cash bonus, ever given to players in the Castle Lager Premiership.
They are set to receive US$10,000 each for being top of the table at this point of the campaign.
Club president, Scott Sakupwanya, had initially promised the players US$5,000 each if Scottland finished top of the PSL log after the first round of matches.
But, he doubled the figure after an impressive MatchDay 18 win over ambitious challengers Hardrock at Rufaro.
With the Hardrock versus Dynamos match currently unresolved, it meant the log standings after 17 matches gave room for the newcomers going above Scottland in the event of being awarded the abandoned match.
But when Scottland beat Hardrock 2-0 at Rufaro on Sunday, the outcome of disciplinary proceedings will not affect the reigning champions’ position at the top of the table after Match Day 18.
With 37 points from 18 matches, Scottland hold a five-point advantage over Hardrock, who have a game in hand, pending the outcome of the disciplinary case.
The champions will still enjoy a two-point lead in the event Kelvin Kaindu’s men are given all points from the ill-fated match.
Speaking on his club’s inhouse platform, Scott said the players had achieved the target and deserved the windfall.
“You have to pay players so that they stay happy. I had promised them US$5,000 for finishing top of the log after 18 games and I have since put it up to US$10,000.
“They are working, they need to feed their families.
“We don’t want them to go to South Africa. They must stay in Zimbabwe.
“My goal is to bring all the good players, who are out of the country, to return home and play in Zimbabwe.
“I am busy with potential sponsors so that our football means business.”
Looking at the recent run of five successive victories, Scott said the team have now “gelled” and they were creating a foundation for the CAF Champions League, whose 2026/27 campaign starts in August.
“The team has now gelled; we are winning matches without any complaints. We are on a good run against teams that had been in top form before we faced them – the likes of Herentals, CAPS United and now Hardrock.
“I would like to say to my brother Chahwanda (Hardrock owner), welcome to football my brother.
“Yes, in business you are a big boy but, in football, I am the boss. I know how to play the game, I have good players and I have invested a lot of money.
“So, when I invest a lot of money into my players, what results do you expect? I spend more money on my players and those that do not invest on their players should not expect good results.
“Zimbabwean people love football, even in the game against Hardrock, there were a lot of fans at the stadium who wanted us to lose but we won.
“We don’t play games, especially against the big teams and especially those that talk too much, we will be waiting for them…”
He revealed he has already secured a mega deal in Dubai for the club next season.
“People might think we were joking that we are the Man City in Zimbabwe. They will see next year that, indeed, we are the Man City.
“They will see what will be written on our jerseys. I have done the deal, I was in Dubai and signed the deal already.” Scottland have beaten all their direct rivals – Hardrock, Herentals and CAPS United – for the championship in recent weeks.
All the three teams arrived in good form but they were all beaten and, crucially, they all failed to score a single goal.
