from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – NEWLY crowned Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions Scottland Football Club say they are modeling their rise on the success and professionalism of South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, one of the continent’s most dominant and efficiently run football institutions.
Club owner and businessman Scott Sakupwanya said Sundowns’ “world-class management culture” has become the benchmark for Scottland FC as the ambitious Harare side prepares for its maiden appearance in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League next year.
“I want Scottland to be like Mamelodi Sundowns. I sent my staff to Chloorkop to learn from them,” Sakupwanya said, referencing the Pretoria club’s renowned high-performance headquarters.
Sakupwanya said Sundowns’ operational excellence—ranging from its technical structures and sports science to recruitment and financial management—provides a blueprint for what Scottland hopes to build.
“When I look at Scottland FC, I envision it becoming like Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. We need to learn from them because they have been in the game longer and understand it better, including their style of play. That’s why we are taking inspiration from them,” he added.
Scottland FC has already signaled its intentions by securing high-profile Zimbabwean internationals Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, offering them lucrative contracts as part of a broader plan to assemble a competitive squad capable of challenging Africa’s elite.
Their upcoming participation in the CAF Champions League—Africa’s most prestigious club competition—marks a major milestone for the club, which rose rapidly through Zimbabwe’s football ranks.
Mamelodi Sundowns, backed by significant investment and renowned for its modern football infrastructure, has dominated the South African Premier Soccer League for more than a decade and won the 2016 CAF Champions League.
The club is often praised for its long-term planning, data-driven coaching, youth development pipeline, and professional administration—attributes Sakupwanya hopes to replicate in Zimbabwe.
With Scottland FC now attracting marquee talent and investing in technical capacity, Sakupwanya says the club’s vision is clear: to build a sustainably run, internationally competitive team capable of matching Africa’s best, just as Sundowns has done.
— CAJ News