TITLE contenders Scottland have refuted social media reports that a recent financial donation to rivals Simba Bhora was intended to manipulate the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title race.
The two clubs are locked in a fierce battle for the championship, with defending champions Simba Bhora currently leading second-place Scottland by just two points.
With just six rounds of matches left, and a razor thin difference separating the sides, a seemingly generous financial donation has ignited a firestorm of social media speculation, prompting Scottland to issue a swift and fiery rebuttal yesterday.
At the heart of the controversy is a staggering US$100 000 donation from Scottland owner, Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya that was handed to Simba Bhora this week.
The money is earmarked for their maiden CAF Champions League campaign, which kicks off this Sunday against Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini.
But a darker narrative has taken hold on social media platforms: the donation is not a gesture of goodwill, but a thinly veiled attempt to manipulate the outcome of the title race, it is claimed.
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Just last weekend, the two rivals played to a tense goalless draw, a result that saw Simba Bhora maintain their slender lead at the top.
The donation followed almost immediately and the online world exploded with accusations of foul play.
However, Scottland, through its chairman Tonderai “Pound” Sakupwanya, wasted no time in pushing back against the “insinuations”.
In a statement yesterday, he dismissed the claims as “ironic”, pointing out that if they wanted to “buy” the title, they would have done so during Saturday’s crucial top of the table match.
He revealed that the donation was simply part of a pre-existing sponsorship deal.
Scott’s company, Betterbrands, is already Simba Bhora’s main shirt sponsor in a two-year half-a-million-dollar agreement.
The deal, according to Pound, includes ensuring the team is “adequately resourced” for its African Safari campaign.
Reports also suggest Scott has promised Simba Bhora players huge bonuses if they manage to advance past Nsingizini Hotspurs.
“We have been alerted to social media claims that Scottland FC president, Pedzai Sakupwanya, has given Simba Bhora FC US$100 000 disguised as CAF Champions League sponsorship,” Pound wrote.
“The insinuation from some sections of social media is that it is a way of buying the PSL title race, which is currently led by Simba Bhora.
“It is ironic that we actually played Simba Bhora on Saturday and were disappointed with the outcome, which kept us in second place.
“If we wanted to manipulate the PSL title race, we could have used that game and gone top of the league table.”
He further clarified: “Simba Bhora has an existing sponsorship deal with Betterbrands, which has been in place since the start of the season as seen on their kit.
“Part of the package includes ensuring that as Zimbabwe’s representative in Africa, they are adequately resourced for their participation in the CAF Champions League.
“This has nothing to do with Scottland FC and the ongoing PSL title race, which at this stage involves up to four teams. We stand for fair play and will fight for the league title on the field of play. At the same time, we wish Simba Bhora all the best in their CAF Champions League campaign as they fly the Zimbabwe flag.”
Scottland, a club with significant financial backing, is looking to win the league title in their maiden season in the premier soccer league.
They have poured substantial resources into the team, including the marquee acquisitions of Warriors star players Khama Billiat and the Musona brothers, Knowledge and Walter.