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Scottland, Black Mambas get down to business
Tadious Manyepo
More and more fans are pouring into Rufaro Stadium for what will be a humdinger Northern Region Soccer League finale pitting promotion-favourites Scottland and Black Mambas this afternoon.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm.
And the atmosphere has added to the vibes expected with a good crowd turning up.
Scottland can clinch promotion into the Premiership with a win over Mambas while a draw will throw their hopes out if the window if second-placed Mwos beat Agama in the battle of their own.
Scottland owner pep talks charges
Scottland president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya has taken it upon himself to motivate his players as he has just pep talked them in the changing room before they plunge into their decisive Northern Region Soccer League battle against Black Mambas at Rufaro.
The Mabvuku team can punch their ticket into the Premiership if they win their final league match against the police outfit.
Before Sakupwanya’s address, the players, as they usually do sang motivational songs and prayed just like their Black Mambas counterparts in the next room.
It’s now a few moments before kick off.
Veteran ref for Scottland, Mambas clash
Veteran referee Brighton Chimene has been assigned with the responsibility to handle the much-anticipated Northern Region Soccer League game between Scottland and Black Mambas.
Scottland will be promoted if they win this match and the high-stakes game has been given to arguably the best referee on land Chimene to officiate.
He will be assisted by Thomas Kusosa and Virimayi Muroiwa.
Huge crowd at Scottland, Mambas match
Rufaro Stadium hasn’t been filled. It was never going to be, anyway.
But this is, by a significant distance, the biggest crowd to grace a first-division match in many years.
Northern Region Soccer League leaders Scottland have been followed a lot this season and the numbers have increased on the final day of the term where they can secure promotion with a win over Black Mambas this afternoon.
But the Mambas will not bend down too easily and let the Mabvuku team have it their way.
The match which started at 3pm has been evenly balanced so far, although Scottland has had two good chances which they failed to make use of.
With second-placed Mwos still searching for the opening goal against Agama in Norton, Scottland can still sneak in with the draw.
We have an interesting day before us!
Penalty!
And Scottland takes the lead
It’s turning out the way Northern Region Soccer League leaders Scottland wanted it.
The promotion favourites have just taken the lead in this must-win last day of the season contest with Black Mambas.
Veteran defender Ronald Pfumbidzai slotted home coolly from the penalty spot to thrust the Mabvuku side ahead.
A Mambas defender hacked down Leroy Mavunga in the box and referee Brighton Chimene awarded the penalty with 25 minutes on the clock
celebration time
Two-up and Scottland in cruise mode
Scottland are surely on their way up to the Premiership after seizing control of their final day match against Black Mambas at Rufaro.
They are leading 2-0 after Leroy Mavunga squeezed in a second that was helped home by a deflection just moments after Ronald Pfumbidzai gave them the lead from the penalty spot.
The flamboyant Northern Region Soccer League leaders will take the ticket to the elite league if they can hold on to their lead.
However, that will be dependent on what the boardroom will say after Karoi United appealed the decision by a Disciplinary Committee to award Scottland three points from their aborted game Chikangwe in September.
But for now, the Mabvuku team can rejoice and the match has opened up, thanks to their two quick-fire goals in this opening half.
Scottland lead at Half Time
Scottland will be hoping to retain better concentration levels in the second half after they let in a rather soft goal right at the stroke of half time to go to the breather carrying a slender 2-1 lead.
The scoreline will still be sufficient to lift them to the Premiership barring an appeal hanging on their necks over a disputed match against Karoi United that was awarded to them early this week.
That won’t concern them for now as they need to just cross the line with a win by any margin.
Scottland scored through Ronald Pfumbidzai (penalty) and Leroy Mavunga but Munyaradzi Dambuza ensured the police outfit remain in it with a tap in after Scottland ‘keeper Panashe Nyabunga had spilled a freekick.
Decisive second half for Scottland
Northern Region Soccer League leaders Scottland are just 45 minutes from glory and all they need to do is hold on to their 2-1 advantage over Black Mambas in the second phase at Rufaro.
Scottland need three points to ensure promotion in this decisive final day tie.
But they will need to be at their best to see this match out.
A draw will be disastrous in their pursuit for top-flight football next year if Mwos beat Agama at Ngoni Stadium in Norton.
They have started the second half on a high note thanks to the experience they have in their ranks that include Ronald Pfumbidzai, Leroy Mavunga, King Nadolo, Lincoln Zvasiya, Cleopas Dube and Allen Gahadzikwa.
Major boost for Scottland
Scottland will no longer need to wait for boardroom issues to be crowned Northern Region Soccer League champions if they beat Black Mambas in an ongoing high-stakes match at Rufaro.
The log leaders were going to put their celebration on hold until their issues with Karoi United got resolved.
They were awarded three points by a Disciplinary Committee in their aborted game against the Mashonaland West side and the verdict propelled them to the top of the standings.
But with Karoi United appealing the decision, Scottland were going to wait until the conclusion of the appeal.
However Karoi United have decided to withdraw their appeal and that means Scottland who are currently leading Mambas 3-1 will secure their passage to the Premiership at the conclusion of the game at hand.
Scottland players on the verge of US$10k windfall
As the clock ticks down at Rufaro, Scottland players are getting closer not only to Premiership promotion but to a US$10 000-each bonus payout.
They are leading Black Mambas 3-1 well into the second half and they will be promoted into the elite league if things end the way they are.
Scottland players will each get US$10 000 bonus if the feat comes to fruition.
Club owner Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya has reassured them of the payout.
“We will do everything that we promised to the players. Football is business and it ought to be treated as such,” said Sakupwanya.
Scottland win Premiership ticket
Scottland……………… (2)3
Black Mambas……….(1)1
Tadious Manyepo
Scottland will play in the Premier Soccer League next year after winning the license after walloping Black Mambas in the dramatic final day of the Northern Region Soccer League at Rufaro this afternoon.
Any lingering doubts brought about by the pending boardroom issues to do with Karoi United’s disputed match were put to rest after the Mashonaland West team decided to withdraw their appeal.
And all the Mabvuku team, who were leading the log going into the dramatic final match day needed was beat Mambas and secure their progress to the elite league.
They did just that as they played with both conviction and aplomb, Ronald Pfumbidzai scoring from the spot and Leroy Mavunga adding a brace to seal the win.
Referee Brighton Chimene’s final whistle was met but raucous roars from the huge crowd that tuned up for the fixture.
