Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Scottland have begun preparations to defend their title after embarking on a month-long pre-season training camp in South Africa and Eswatini.
The champions departed Zimbabwe this week for an intensive camp aimed at sharpening fitness levels and tactical cohesion ahead of the new season. Club officials say the programme will expose players to high-performance training environments as Scottland seek to consolidate their position at the summit of domestic football.
The camp also ushers in a new technical era for the club following the appointment of former Warriors captains Norman Mapeza as head coach and Peter “Nsukuzonke” Ndlovu as team manager.
Mapeza, one of the most decorated coaches in Zimbabwean football, arrives with an established track record, having won four league titles during his coaching career. His appointment signals Scottland’s intention to pursue sustained success, rather than a single championship campaign, with a coach who has previously guided teams beyond the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
Ndlovu brings further experience to the technical set-up, having enjoyed a long professional career in England before transitioning into football management. He later served in senior roles at South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, where he was part of a structure that dominated domestically and competed consistently on the continental stage.
Off the field, Scottland have taken a more restrained approach to recruitment compared to last season. Club sources indicate that the focus has been on strengthening key positions rather than wholesale squad changes, with several fringe players and those previously loaned out released as part of a squad rationalisation process.
Defensive reinforcements include Kenyan international Joash Onyango, while left-back Kwake Twala has been signed from Eswatini champions Nsingizini Hotspurs. In midfield, the champions have added Soccer Stars of the Year finalists Abubakar Moffat and Emmanuel Ziocha, the latter having recorded the most assists in the league last season.
The South Africa and Eswatini camp is expected to be central in shaping Scottland’s playing identity under the new technical leadership, as the club balances immediate domestic expectations with longer-term ambitions.
With pressure mounting after last season’s success, Scottland will be aiming to demonstrate that their maiden title triumph marked the beginning of a sustained period at the top of Zimbabwean football.
