Online Reporter
Sports Reporters
TWO Chiefs, two countries, two cities, one opponent.
The first of the two battles, which will be fought either side of the Limpopo, gets underway at Rufaro today.
Kaizer Chiefs and Bulawayo Chiefs stand in the opponents’ corner while Scottland are in the other corner.
The two battles will be fought within a four-day period in Harare, this afternoon, and Rustenberg in South Africa on Sunday.
Today’s battle is a Castle Lager Premiership match where Scottland will try to bounce back from a defeat that ended their 12-match unbeaten run.
Norman Mapeza’s men fell to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Highlanders and the arrival of another club, from the City of Kings, should bring back memories of that loss.
It ended an impressive run in which they had won ten of their dozen games, including nine on the bounce, in which they didn’t concede a goal.
With Hardrock only in action tomorrow, against Agama, a win for the champions will take them, at least, nine points clear, in the event Dynamos also beat FC Platinum at Mandava.
The gap at the top could stretch to 10 points, should the Scotts win today, and FC Platinum avoid defeat.
Herentals got the midweek programme underway with a 1-0 win over Manica Diamonds at Rufaro yesterday with captain Ralph Kawondera converting a penalty.
After the home commitments, the Scotts will then leave Harare tomorrow for the Toyota Challenge Cup match against Kaizer Chiefs at the Royal Bafokeng Palace in Rustenberg on Sunday.
It will be their biggest match, outside the borders of the country, and another powerful statement of how their brand has grown in the past two-and-half years.
The growth of the club’s brand, beyond the country’s borders, is a mission which is top of the list of priorities for the club’s owner, businessman Scott Sakupwanya.
It’s the message he kept hammering at his players, and coaching staff, when he addressed his team at the Scottland Village in Ruwa last week.
Kaizer Chief’s state-of-the-art Village in Naturena was one of the inspirational stories behind Scott’s decision to invest in the Scottland Village.
“People are talking about this club everywhere because of what we are doing,” he said.
“They admire the way we are building the club and that is because of you, the players.
“You are the custodians of the Scottland brand and no individual should damage everything that we are building together.
“You see me investing heavily because I understand the value of a strong brand. Without a brand you cannot grow, and together we must continue to build it.”
Kaizer Chiefs returned home on Monday after their pre-season preparations in Spain under the watchful eye of new coach Fernando Da Cruz.
Their last game was against La Liga side Elche on Saturday and their next one is the Toyota Cup against Scottland in Rustenburg.
The French-born tactician was with Amakhosi for a short time in 2024 and is delighted to return to take the reins of such a majestic institution.
“I have received a very warm welcome, which I appreciate. I took pleasure in my work, and the people at Naturena, so I am happy to be back at the great Club,” he says.
“The Kaizer Chiefs Village at Naturena has all the facilities needed to do a good job. It is in very good condition, the pitch, the gym etc. I have a good feeling about it,” the 54-year-old continues.
Da Cruz arrived at Chiefs with a steely determination to compete for the biggest prizes on offer.
“I know I am working for the biggest Club in the country, one with a lot of fans all over Africa, not just South Africa.
“I want us to start the season well to give our millions of fans a good feeling, because they deserve it, and have a good season and challenge for titles.”
