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Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub

Scottland…………………..(2)3

Black Mambas…………..(1)1

SCOTTLAND bookmarked the incredible tale they have written in their debut Northern Region Soccer League by sealing Premiership promotion after a 3-1 victory over Black Mambas at Rufaro yesterday.

It’s a beautiful story crafted out of sheer determination and organization that manifested before a huge crowd at the home of ceremonial football.

It’s a journey that started with a very late decision by club president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya to buy a first division franchise and assembling an almost amateurish side given the calibre of players available.

But one thing that was never in doubt in that team under the tutelage of an equally ambitious coach Isaac Nyasulu was belief.

And believe they did, upsetting primate favourites MWOS, a team they would ultimately pip to the crown, just to underline their ambition early in the season.

At one time they were even in mid table but as things steadied up, they started to show real character and they became even better with mid-season acquisition of experienced players like Leeroy Mavhunga, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Allan Gahadzikwa and Cleopas Dube.

They also took on board former Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe with Nyasulu reverting to be the second-in-charge.

And all the hard work they put in throughout came down to the final 90 minutes of the term against a stocky Black Mambas side that derailed MWOS off their way just three weeks ago.

Going into the deciding final fixture, Scottland were two points above second-placed MWOS, who were battling it out with Agama at Ngoni.

With an inferior goal difference to MWOS, Scottland needed an outright win to secure promotion.

And it was a nervy duel especially in the opening moments with Black Mambas threatening to break the hearts and possibly souls of the thousands who were rallying Scottland.

But once they found their footing with Pfumbidzai rolling down a penalty in the 26th minute after a foul on Leroy Mavunga, Scottland settled in.

They were back on the scoresheet towards the break, Mavunga forcing a deflected shot and the hosts were cruising.

But they were soon to be reminded it was a match never to lose any margin concentration when Munyaradzi Dambudza halved the negative at the stroke of half time.

Scottland needed to manage the game in the second phase and they did just that even managing an insurance goal through Mavunga and they were surely on their way to be with the big boys.

The match was watched by the who is who of football including Herentals owner Innocent Benza, who congratulated his fellow legislator Sakupwanya at the end.

Mangombe praised his boys for their strong mentality at the end.

“I give it to the boys. They put in the fight and the work. I am really impressed with how they managed to calm themselves in such a high-pressure game,” said Mangombe.

“Let me salute the boys and obviously the support we have been receiving from the club management and patron has been amazing.

“The success is for all of us. I am really happy.”

Club patron Sakupwanya said belief carried them all the way.

“I would like to thank God because it was not an easy road but God did it for us, I would want to thank Honourable Innocent Benza for being with us throughout the journey.

“ We fought a good fight, like what I predicted when we were on number seven that we will be number one and today (yesterday) we just did it.

“We know whenever there are good things, naysayers will always talk but we know that in life when people do not talk about you,it means you are not important,” said Sakupwanya.

“So one needs to be talked about in life, our opponents tried all they could to pull us down but they could not achieve it.

“Some were 12 points ahead of us but they conceded too many draws and we were winning, so they should not complain.

“They must congratulate us, because as Scottland, we want to take our football forward, we need to empower our youths.”

MWOS won 1-0 but that was too little too late with Scottland holding on to their two-point advantage.