Scottland FC is planning a massive infrastructural investment, with club president and founder Scott Sakupwanya promising to construct a state-of-the-art stadium that will cost an estimated US$30 million.
The stadium, which will be Fifa and CAF approved, is earmarked for the Ruwa area, near Mabvuku, Harare.
The announcement comes on the heels of Scottland's phenomenal season, which saw them crowned Premier Soccer League champions after a 5-1 win against Kwekwe United, securing their ticket to the prestigious CAF Champions League.
The club built the Scottland Football complex in Ruwa where the first phase of player accommodation has been completed.
It will facility will house players from the Scottland Football Academy up to the senior team as part of the club’s vision and will also cut down on camping expenses.
The complex will also have an Olympic size swimming pool, restaurant, gym and conference centre.
And this is where training facilities and the stadium will be built.
Speaking in an in-house interview, Sakupwanya stressed his commitment to national and community development.
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"We are Zimbabweans; we have to build our own nation. As Scottland, we want to build our stadium on our own," he declared.
The decision to accelerate the stadium project has been stimulated by the club's upcoming entrance into the CAF Champions League, which kicks off around September next year.
"We already have the quotations. It will be a top-class stadium," Sakupwanya confirmed. "It's going to be CAF-approved, and it will cost us about US$30 million."
However, the Scottland boss admitted to facing constraints due to the projected construction timeline.
"What is boring is that we were informed that it will be complete in 18 months," he stated, suggesting the club may need to use an alternate venue for their Champions League home games in the first half of the season.
Despite this, he noted that the club's training facilities are already in place for the next season.
This development adds to a growing wave of investment in Zimbabwe's football infrastructure, as teams like MWOS FC, Hardrock FC.
Simba Bhora and Yadah FC are also working towards upgrading their stadiums to meet CAF standards.
In addition to the stadium news, Sakupwanya has extended a firm invitation to Dynamos maverick midfielder Denver Mukamba to rejoin his former club.
Mukamba, who played for Scottland FC in Division One last season, is considered a key target for the newly-crowned PSL champions.
Sakupwanya was candid about his desire to bring the player back to the Mabvuku side.
"During preseason, I told my coach that we had to get Denver, even if he plays a few minutes," he said.
The Scottland president admitted that Mukamba, well-known by his field name ‘Mundikumbuke’ or ‘Baba Dhodho’, was his greatest concern when the two teams faced off.
Mukamba even scored the decisive goal that kept Dynamos’ survival hopes alive against Scottland.
"When we played Dynamos, Denver was a marvel to watch, and he was the one I was more afraid of than any other player. I know him, I like him. He is a destroyer,” Sakupwanya revealed.
Despite the absence of a mutual agreement with Dynamos, Sakupwanya made a light-hearted but resolute promise to the media. "I will say to Dynamos, I am sorry; Denver is my son. So, by next year, I will say ‘Denver! Welcome back!’ Your jersey is still there,” he quipped.
Sakupwanya also reminded Dynamos fans that he was instrumental in Mukamba's return to professional football.
"I plead with Dynamos supporters — I am also a Dynamos fan, let’s have a mutual agreement, guys, I know it’s painful, but Denver is my player. Dynamos should thank me because I am the one who took Denver the time he was no longer playing football,” he concluded.
