Mapeza cools title talk as Scottland go cremora

Scottland FC coach Norman Mapeza has dismissed growing speculation about his side's title prospects after they climbed to the summit of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings with a 2-0 victory over Herentals at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.

The win saw Scottland move to 31 points, overtaking Hardrock FC at the top of the table and strengthening their credentials as genuine contenders in the race for league honours.

However, Mapeza insists it is far too early to focus on the championship, stressing that his team's priority remains collecting points one game at a time.

"It's still early days, I think. Like I said before, for us, we just need to take each game as it comes and collect maximum points, then we'll see what happens at the end of the season," Mapeza said.

"I believe if we get maximum points, it will push us close to our goal."

Veteran forward Knowledge Musona was the star of the afternoon, scoring a first-half brace to secure all three points for Scottland. The former Zimbabwe international has hit a rich vein of form, netting four goals in his last three matches.

Scottland's rise to the top has been built on both attacking efficiency and defensive solidity. The club is currently enjoying a five-match unbeaten run and boasts one of the league's most formidable backlines.

Goalkeeper Nelson Chadya has been a key figure in that defensive success, recording 12 clean sheets in 16 league matches this season, an impressive statistic that has helped Scottland maintain consistency in a tightly contested title race.

For Herentals, the defeat marked the end of an impressive nine-match unbeaten streak. The loss saw "The Students" slip to fifth place on the standings, dealing a blow to their own ambitions of challenging near the top of the table.

While Scottland supporters may already be dreaming of another league title, Mapeza remains focused on the bigger picture, preferring to keep expectations in check as the season approaches its halfway stage.

With momentum on their side and Musona rediscovering his scoring touch, Scottland have positioned themselves strongly, but their coach is determined not to get carried away by the current standings.


Castle Lager Premeir Soccer League Saturday Results

Herentals 0-2 Scottland FC
TelOne 1-0 Highlanders
Agama 0-0 Chicken Inn
Ngezi Platinum 1-0 MWOS

Sunday fixtures

Manica Diamonds vs Dynamos (Sakubva Stadium)
CAPS vs ZPC Kariba (Rufaro Stadium)
Hardrock vs Simba Bhora (Chahwanda Stadium)
Triangle vs FC Platinum (Gibbo Stadium).