The fairytale start for soccer newcomers Scottland FC has turned sour. Player unhappiness, contract problems, and management fights threaten what looked like a promising first season. The Mabvuku-based team grabbed headlines with star signings Walter Musona and Khama Billiat. But behind the scenes, trouble brews at every level of the club.
Club founder Pedzai Sakupwanya stands at the center of the storm. After a March loss to Ngezi Platinum Stars, he publicly blasted his team despite their star-filled roster. He directly questioned coach Tonderai Ndiraya about player selection. Team sources say Sakupwanya often forces the coach to play his favorite players regardless of how well they perform, leaving the coaching staff frustrated and team spirit low.
The situation worsened on April 11 when Sakupwanya praised his lower-league team N'ombeyawora after they won 4-0. He suggested his Premier League squad should learn from them. He even said he might have named the wrong team Scottland. Players felt hurt rather than motivated by these comments, as their confidence had already suffered.
Contract issues add to the mess. Players report signing just one copy of the contracts instead of the required four. Some fear staff members created fake copies with inflated numbers to steal money from the club budget. The monthly wage bill reaches about $120,000. Staff members have started leaving, with digital manager Thulani Javas Sibanda departing on Tuesday for Bulawayo Chiefs.
Despite paying top salaries for top talent, Scottland shows poor results on the field. They have just 12 points from seven matches, trailing league leaders MWOS by five points. Coach Ndiraya mentions mental lapses in games, likely stemming from deeper team problems. Unless these internal issues improve, even star power might not save Scottland from disaster.
Club founder Pedzai Sakupwanya stands at the center of the storm. After a March loss to Ngezi Platinum Stars, he publicly blasted his team despite their star-filled roster. He directly questioned coach Tonderai Ndiraya about player selection. Team sources say Sakupwanya often forces the coach to play his favorite players regardless of how well they perform, leaving the coaching staff frustrated and team spirit low.
The situation worsened on April 11 when Sakupwanya praised his lower-league team N'ombeyawora after they won 4-0. He suggested his Premier League squad should learn from them. He even said he might have named the wrong team Scottland. Players felt hurt rather than motivated by these comments, as their confidence had already suffered.
Contract issues add to the mess. Players report signing just one copy of the contracts instead of the required four. Some fear staff members created fake copies with inflated numbers to steal money from the club budget. The monthly wage bill reaches about $120,000. Staff members have started leaving, with digital manager Thulani Javas Sibanda departing on Tuesday for Bulawayo Chiefs.
Despite paying top salaries for top talent, Scottland shows poor results on the field. They have just 12 points from seven matches, trailing league leaders MWOS by five points. Coach Ndiraya mentions mental lapses in games, likely stemming from deeper team problems. Unless these internal issues improve, even star power might not save Scottland from disaster.
