KNOWLEDGE FOR ARCHIVES . . . Scottland open 4 point gap

Mugove Chigada

Deputy Sports Editor

Scottland  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . (2) 2

Hardrock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  0

In the end, Knowledge Musona scored a brace that cracked the hard rock.

Years from now, football purists will look back and realise his brilliance, which was on full display at Rufaro yesterday, added to a legacy difficult to ignore.

The first goal was that of a poacher off Khama Billiat’s flashing header after 20 minutes. The second was from a Billiat rebound, just before the breather.

After that, just as we have seen over the past weeks, Norman Mapeza’s match management ensured Hardrock’s fightback was futile.

A four-point gap had been opened by the Castle Lager Premiership log leaders as Musona and Billiat posed questions difficult to answer.

Forget the social media narratives that these two are now a liability.

Yes, they are way past their best. But right now they are giving the impression the story is just beginning.

And the real question after the Rufaro job is, can Musona and Billiat be replaced? “No one is irreplaceable,” Knowledge exclusively told Zimpapers Sports Hub after the match.

“We have very good upcoming youngsters. I’m hoping that the youngsters are learning one or two things from us as seniors.

“And hopefully they will get to the level that we set for them because we really want the young guys to be playing, and also it is good for Zimbabwean football and for our national team.”

Knowledge had just been given the man-of-the-match award. And the smiling assassin was living true to his name.

Or perhaps the crowning moment came way before that, in the second half when he was substituted and given a standing ovation.

He was replaced by Abubakar Moffat. As he walked off the pitch, admiration came from many corners — from neutrals at the Mbare end, the Scotts in the Vietnam Stand and the opposition.

“The guy has been working so hard,” Scottland coach Norman Mapeza added to yesterday’s magical show. “Knowledge, Khama and the rest of the guys have been working well.

His performance and what he has been giving us for the past five games, it is fantastic. My wish is for him to stay healthy and not get injuries . . . ”

But yesterday’s show was also more than just a knowledge show, but Scottland’s many layers of play, balance and resilience. Kevin Moyo and Peter Muduhwa’s combination has continued to be stronger.

Mohammed Issaka on the right side was solid. Twala’s raids were never stopped by the size of the occasion, and yesterday it was his penetration through the middle during transitions that gave Hardrock something to think about.

“There is an understanding between those guys at the back, Chadya as well. Not forgetting our defensive midfielders. I think they have been very solid,” said Mapeza.

Kelvin Kaindu had learned the hard way how experienced players can decide a game of this magnitude, but Hardrock were far from being entirely overrun.

Donald Mudadi, in the middle of the park, stood his ground, only for Scottland to introduce an extra layer and dimension to the midfield in Moffat to kill the game as a contest.

“It’s a painful defeat for us. It was a 50-50 game for us. I’m just disappointed with the way we conceded the first goal,” said Kaindu.

They had their moments.

“And also our mental strength when we conceded the second goal . . . In the second half, we tried to come back into the game. Maybe we could have gotten a penalty,” Kaindu added.

“It is the first time we were conceding from a set-piece and it was a bit too easy for us to concede.

“When we conceded we wanted to change the pattern of play. We wanted to send long balls, which did not help.”

Munashe Bamara tried hard to control the midfield battle, and on the afternoon, he also found his match in Moses Shidholo, the “chief disrupter.”

On the four-point gap, Kaindu said: “There are still a lot of games to be played. Yes, it has affected us in terms of the gap. We need to play two games to catch up. But there are still a lot of teams to play.”

Reality is now Scottland could be the team to beat, and perhaps Knowledge summed up what the opposition have to be ready for.

“Me, Khama and Walter have been playing together for long since we were young, and we really understand each other. Now that we are playing together again, everything is falling into place. It’s all about football intelligence. It becomes easy that what we are doing at training is what we are doing during the game,” said Knowledge.