Scottland FC to build US$30 million stadium

Premier Soccer League champions Scottland FC are set to embark on one of Zimbabwe's biggest private football infrastructure projects, with club president and founder Scott Sakupwanya announcing plans to construct a state-of-the-art, CAF- and FIFA-approved stadium in Ruwa.

The ambitious project, valued at US$30 million, will be built near the club's existing Scottland Football Complex in Ruwa, which already houses completed accommodation facilities for academy and senior players. The complex will also include an Olympic-size swimming pool, a gym, a restaurant, and a conference centre - all part of Sakupwanya's long-term vision to create a self-sustaining football hub.

"We are Zimbabweans; we have to build our own nation," Sakupwanya said in an in-house interview. "As Scottland, we want to build our stadium on our own. It will be a top-class facility that meets international standards."

The decision to fast-track construction comes as Scottland prepare to represent Zimbabwe in the CAF Champions League next year, following their emphatic 5–1 victory over Kwekwe United to clinch the league title.

Sakupwanya confirmed that initial quotations for the project had already been secured, though the construction timeline poses challenges. "We were informed it will take about 18 months to complete," he said, noting that the club might have to use an alternative venue for home fixtures during the early stages of the CAF competition.

Despite the logistical hurdles, the Scottland boss said the club's training facilities would be ready for next season, and he remained upbeat about the club's role in promoting community and national development.

Scottland's investment follows a broader trend in Zimbabwean football, with several clubs - including MWOS FC, Hardrock FC, Simba Bhora, and Yadah FC - upgrading their stadiums to meet CAF requirements.

In a separate development, Sakupwanya also confirmed his intention to bring back Denver Mukamba, the talented but mercurial Dynamos midfielder who previously played for Scottland FC in Division One.

"During preseason, I told my coach we had to get Denver, even if he just plays a few minutes," Sakupwanya said. "When we played Dynamos, Denver was the player I feared most - he's a destroyer, and I like him."

Mukamba, affectionately known as Mundikumbuke or Baba Dhodho, scored a crucial goal for Dynamos that helped them avoid relegation, but Sakupwanya remains determined to lure him back.

"I will say to Dynamos, I am sorry - Denver is my son," he joked. "By next year, I will say, ‘Denver, welcome back! Your jersey is still here.'"

Sakupwanya reminded Dynamos fans that he played a key role in reviving Mukamba's career. "I am also a Dynamos fan, so let's have a mutual agreement. They should thank me - I'm the one who brought Denver back to football when he was no longer playing."

If completed as planned, the Scottland Stadium will mark a major milestone in the modernisation of Zimbabwe's football infrastructure and could signal a new era of private investment in the domestic game.