Scottland FC owner pledges bigger bonuses to keep Zimbabwe’s best players at home

Scottland FC owner Scott Sakupwanya says he wants to make Zimbabwean football financially attractive enough to prevent the country’s leading players from moving to South Africa.

Sakupwanya has already committed bonuses of close to R150,000 for players including Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, and says further investment will follow as part of an effort to strengthen the domestic game.

The businessman, known for his willingness to spend heavily, has used his wealth to bring Billiat and Musona to Scottland FC. Both players were previously highly regarded during their careers in South Africa.

His latest pledge is understood to be worth US$10,000, approximately R164,000, after Scottland FC finished the first half of the season at the top of the table.

According to NewsDay Zimbabwe, Sakupwanya initially promised players US$5,000 if they were leading the standings after 18 matches. He later doubled that amount.

“You have to pay players so that they stay happy,” Sakupwanya said. “I had promised them US$5,000 for finishing top of the log after 18 games and I have since put it up to US$10,000. They are working, they need to feed their families.”

The pledge underlines Sakupwanya’s determination to improve the rewards available to players in Zimbabwe and make domestic football more sustainable for the country’s leading talent.

He said the wider objective was not simply to recruit high-profile players, but also to stop Zimbabwean footballers from believing they had to leave the country to earn a living.

“We don’t want our players to go to South Africa. They must stay in Zimbabwe,” Sakupwanya stated.

“My goal is to bring all the good players who are out of the country to return home and play in Zimbabwe.”

Sakupwanya’s approach has already made Scottland FC one of the most prominent clubs in Zimbabwe’s domestic game, with the arrivals of Billiat and Musona representing a significant show of ambition.

The club’s position at the top of the table after the opening 18 games has now led to an even larger financial commitment. Sakupwanya said players deserved the support because they were working to provide for their families.

His comments also set out a broader vision for Zimbabwean football: retaining the country’s best players, attracting those currently abroad back home and increasing the financial value of remaining in the domestic game.

The owner’s stated ambition is therefore to build a football environment in which Zimbabwe’s leading players can continue their careers at home, rather than seeking opportunities in South Africa.