Former PSL star Washington Arubi has been hailed for his integrity after rejecting an alleged bribe to influence a decisive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match in favour of Scottland FC in Zimbabwe.
Arubi, formerly of Betway Premiership sides SuperSport United [now Siwelele FC] and Marumo Gallants, has been commended for his actions after allegedly rejecting a bribe from a female official aligned to Scottland FC who approached him on Tuesday in an attempt to influence the upcoming match between his club, Caps United and Scottland.
Scottland FC are desperate to reduce the gap between themselves and first-placed Hardrock FC in the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, which is now in its home stretch.
With the season drawing to a close, Scottland find themselves in a desperate situation at a time they are also licking their wounds following their dramatic CAF Champions League exit. The 2025 PSL champions were eliminated in the preliminary rounds, a result that saw Norman Mapeza fired and replaced on an interim basis by Peter Ndlovu.
The 2025 champions sit on two games in hand against Caps United and Chicken Inn FC. They face Caps United first on Thursday at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, a high-stakes match that has the potential to further derail their hopes of retaining the PSL title.
ARUBI TURNS DOWN BRIBE AS TITLE RACE HEATS UP IN ZIM’S 2026 PSL SEASON
As such, the club appears to have been pulling all the stops, both on and off the field, to influence the result in their favour. The 41-year-old, Arubi, was approached, although he is currently injured and missing action due to injury.
Acting on behalf of Scottland FC, the female official, only identified as Bridget, approached Arubi with the hope that he would assist them to reach out to Botswana goalkeeper Victor James, who has been first choice in Arubi’s absence.
Arubi had the courage to record the conversation and instantly rejected Bridget’s offer. In the audio, Arubi is heard saying he has massive respect for Caps United president Farai Jere and would not want to set a bad example for budding players like James, who still have many years ahead of them in the game.
In what has been a two-horse race, any slip-up for Scottland could prove costly and ultimately see them fail to retain the PSL title, which they desperately need to win so as to book another ticket into the CAF Champions League next edition.
At the moment, they have 61 points on their tally, exactly eight points behind Hardrock FC, who have been impressive in their last nine games. Meanwhile, the developments have prompted a strong warning from ZIFA.
ZIFA ISSUES STERN WARNING TO ZIM PSL CLUB
In a letter to all Premier Soccer League Governors dated 28 October 2026, ZIFA General Secretary Yvonne Mapika Manwa reminded clubs of their responsibility to uphold integrity.
“The integrity of our game remains non-negotiable. ZIFA maintains a firm zero-tolerance stance against match manipulation, corruption, and any conduct that undermines the credibility of football,” Manwa wrote.
“As custodians of Zimbabwean football, let us collectively safeguard the integrity of our competitions and ensure that every result is determined solely by merit, commitment, and performance on the field of play.”
Scottland FC face Caps United, Chicken Inn, Herentals College and Triangle in their last matches, while Hardrock, who have played two games more than them, face Simba Bhora FC and will conclude the 2026 season against Thabo Senong‘s FC Platinum.
RELATED STORY: ‘I have completed the football circle’; Washington Arubi on emotional return to the city where his career began
