The Smiling Assasin displays his jersey as he signs his new contract with Mabviravira
By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe’s prolific striker Knowledge Musona has officially returned to local Premier Soccer League (PSL) football after years abroad, signing a blockbuster deal with ambitious side Scottland FC. He is expected to deliver the goals that could tilt the title race in Scottland’s favour.
Musona was unveiled to roaring crowds at Rufaro Stadium last week, as thousands of fans celebrated the homecoming of one of the country’s most gifted football exports. The Mabvuku-based Scottland FC, now among the best-resourced clubs in the league, pulled off the high-profile signing as they push to lift the PSL title in a season that has become one of the most competitive in years.
Known to fans as the Smiling Assassin, Knowledge Musona brings home an impressive record built over a globe-trotting career that has taken him to South Africa, Germany, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia. In the top clubs he featured for since 2009, he was a consistent goal scorer known for his deadly free kicks and clinical finishing.
He now joins a star-studded Scottland squad that includes Khama Billiat, Terrence Dzvukamanja, and his brother Walter Musona, the team’s captain, all being returnees from South Africa.
The Zimbabwean PSL seen players returning home from stints abroad. Besides Musona and Dzvukamanja, familiar names like Kuda Mahachi, Kundai Benyu, Edmore Sibanda, Tendai Ndoro, and Dominic Chungwa have all signed for local clubs—injecting much-needed quality into a league.
Scottland’s title rivals include in-form Simba Bhora of Shamva—tipped as favourites to top the table—Mwos, coached by seasoned tactician Lloyd Mutasa, and FC Platinum who have been consistent in recent years. With about ten matches left, the championship race is wide open.
Scottland’s big-name signings are expected to address the league’s long-standing goal drought. Dzvukamanja has already hit the ground running with goals, raising hopes that Musona’s trademark dead balls and corner kicks will make the difference in the final stretch.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s traditional giants are finding the going tough. Highlanders remain in the mix but have struggled for consistency. Caps United and Dynamos, once the pride of local football, have endured a disastrous campaign—Dynamos in particular is fighting relegation, stuck in the bottom four week after week.
Scottland’s resurgence, fuelled by heavy investment and a crop of returning stars, has reinvigorated the local game. Fans now believe the Smiling Assassin can fire his new club to glory and add his name once again to a league he has never played for, although he had proven to be one of Zimbabwe’s brightest talents—on par with legends like Peter Ndlovu.
The 35-year-old began his professional journey with Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, after graduating from Aces Youth Academy, where he quickly rose to fame as one of the league’s most clinical finishers—netting close to 30 goals in about 70 appearances across two stints. His exploits earned him a move to Europe with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in Germany, where he also spent time on loan at Augsburg.
Musona later found his best European form in Belgium, where he starred for KV Oostende, scoring over 30 goals in more than 100 matches and becoming one of the club’s most trusted forwards. He also turned out for Belgian giants Anderlecht, and had spells with Lokeren and Eupen, adding valuable goals and experience in one of Europe’s highly competitive leagues.
His most recent chapter before returning home saw him playing in Saudi Arabia for Al-Tai FC, where he maintained his reputation as a dependable scorer, netting around 25 goals in roughly 70 appearances—often dazzling fans with trademark free kicks and calm finishes.
On the international stage, Musona has worn the Warriors jersey with pride for over a decade, earning more than 50 caps and scoring at least 24 goals for Zimbabwe, many from set pieces and crucial matches in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and regional tournaments.
His return to Scottland FC adds proven firepower to a club now hoping that the Smiling Assassin’s dead-ball magic and lethal finishing will revive the league’s scoring charts—and perhaps deliver a long-awaited championship to Mabvuku.
With the final whistle for the 2025 season fast approaching, all eyes will be on Musona to see if he can lead Scottland to the top in a championship race that has suddenly become Zimbabwe’s biggest football story.
