When Scottland FC, raised all dust last season in the NRSL, it never looked like a serious football club beyond a glorified billionaires’ toy, but just months into its PSL tenure, in which they open the 2025 season against Triangle on Friday, they have a lot statement decisions, The Page has learnt.
In the Zambian capital on a research mission, The Page, couldn’t even ignore the trail of impact left by the Scott Sakupwanya owned side, who were in this country for a pre season training.
The first sign of shock greeted The Page, when on a research mission at the military hospital, Maina Soko, on Independence Way, in the same vicinity that houses the army and State House, was a lady donning the new Scottland FC jersey with its beautiful logo.
I asked the otherwise beautiful if smiling lady, if she knew the team whose shirt she wore, to which she said; “you know this ka Zimbabwe team is very colourful.
” I went for one of the matches they played at Woodlands (pronounced Hoodlance kkkk) and they just presented the jersey to me and said, thank you for supporting Scottland FC.
“Kkkkkkkkk.. Ah that surprised me a lot because am a Zesco fan and didn’t know anything about this team, let alone that they were from Zimbabwe.
“But after that I can tell you, I like them, they know how attract fans to their side, ” Emma Chongo, a pharmacy assistant at the Lewanika Complex, told The Page.
This not only struck me but also had me asking, “saka Scottland haisikutomiraka. Irikutoda zvekudaro?.
Their brief sojourn in this city left many good stories in their wake.
They even went to pay homage to the Fallen Heroes site of the 1993 Gabon Air disaster in Matero suburbs on Great North road (T2 road) adjacent the now refurbished Independence stadium.
All 30 people on board perished, with 24 bodies recovered with just 13 positively identified in April 1993.
What a gesture from Scottland. If only they knew how many Zambian friends they recruited from such a show.
Xavier Manchisi, a top journalist based in Lusaka, told The Page that he found such an action by Scottland overly touching and relevant.
“Who owns that club? What they did (visiting the heroes site) was extremely touching and exemplary and this endeared them to many neutrals.
” In fact, I even asked myself who they’re because in Zimbabwe, it is either Caps United, Highlanders, Hwange, Dynamos and the platinum clubs.
“What I can tell you though is that if as a new club, they’re doing this, they’re destined for greater heights.
“Did you see the bus they were using? Very beautiful bus and the colours bright and shouting.
“Those guys know how to brand. I hope they play that well too, but eish, their marketing team know a thing or two about football, Manchisi told The Page at a Nyamachoma hide out in the city.
So Hon Sakupwanya side is really determined to create a brand so appealing that they can come to train here in Zambia and leave a mark of excellence as ambassadors for Zimbabwe?
They even had a courtesy call at the embassy in Lusaka where former police honcho, Charity Charamba, now ambassador, received them.
The pictures shown to The Page, were staggering. The boys looked smart – the entire team, technical and support staff, too.
And ambassador Charamba was very proud of the Scottland side.
“It was so humbling to get the courtesy call from the team. To imagine that they’re not even a national team, but represented Zimbabwe well is very touching and humbling, ” ambassador Charamba said.
What The Page confirmed though was that indeed the team took training very seriously under coach Tonde Ndiraya, who followed to the letter, a medical program designed by doctor Nic Munyonga, a coup d’etat appointment to the Scottland ensemble.
The side even played some practice matches against local teams, not the least police side Nkwazi FC, during which they tested their own against strong opposition.
All this and more, Scottland did away from the prying eyes of the media, hoping to surprise the ecosystem when the league starts and interestingly, they open their account against Triangle, like them, new boys to the league.
The Ndiraya coached side have all the big names to call on and eyes are all trained on the club, who despite being the newest, boast of seamless vaults of wealth.
And they have invested in the club too, so much that they’re easily the richest club in the land in terms of the asset register.
They can parade the fan interest and social media presence way beyond their age(new boys) and the appeal of their sweet talking chairman, Tonde Sakupwanya, is something of a sweetner, as sponsors have followed them too.
That Scottland managed to grab headlines here in Zambia, at a time their league is in the burners, is evidence that they’re doing something right.
But on Friday, it is season opening and all eyes will be on Scottland and Sakupwanya to see if the huge investment in the team, will be showing.
The Page, who hardly gets impressed by anything Scottland, in view of their modus operandi in NRSL last season, couldn’t resist the impact of this club.
“They’re doing something right. Who are they by the way? I like the way they’re not shy to talk about their club.
“Any league needs clubs like this. No one can ignore this type of doing business.
“Club football is in good space with such teams, “Football Association of Zambia president, Andrew Kamanga told The Page.
You can not expect to drink champagne on palm wine budget…hazvibude mukoma.
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