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Petros Kausiyo
NESBERT “Yabo’’ Saruchera and Lloyd Mutasa have each built a reputation of helping Division One teams secure promotion into the Premier Soccer League.
Saruchera has guided teams in the Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL), while Mutasa specialised in leading Eastern Region sides.
Along the way, they also identified and nurtured talent that would go on to excel in the Premiership, with the pair also having flirtations with national youth teams at different intervals.
But that is as far as the common denominator between the two respected coaches goes.
Tomorrow they will come face to face in a blockbuster NRSL 2024 season opener at Ngoni Stadium in Norton, which could set the tone for what appears yet another riveting race for promotion into the Premiership.
Saruchera, a three-time NRSL championship winner, is back at his beloved Black Rhinos where he is on a mission to lead the army side to a quick return to the top-flight.
Mutasa is in charge of ambitious MWOS, who are also aiming at securing the sole NRSL ticket to the elite league.
Rhinos and MWOS are two of five clubs that are being touted as favourites to win the championship.
The others are regular campaigners Black Mambas, Golden Eagles, and Harare City.
A buoyant Saruchera said he is expecting an exciting battle that should light up Norton whose residents have warmed up to the Division One game since the arrival of MWOS to set base in the town.
Saruchera said although he has not worked at the same club as Mutasa, he respects the contribution that the former Dynamos coach has made to the development of Zimbabwean football.
“We have never worked together, but what I know is that Lloyd is a very passionate coach.
“He likes his football just like me,’’ Saruchera said.
“The NRSL is the best of the four regions in the country. I can’t say I am happy to be back in Division One, but I am happy to be back at my beloved Rhinos.
“I want to help them to be back where they belong.
“We have been working very hard to have a strong Rhinos. The foundation was there as you saw Rhinos did very well towards the end of the 2023 season in the PSL.
“Most of the youngsters are still there, and believe me, we have a strong team’’.
For all his confidence, Saruchera who has the exciting pair of Prince Mangondo and Takudzwa Mandeya on his books, admitted the championship marathon will not be easy.
“Northern Region is always never easy, it’s very competitive but what I know is that it’s going to be a thriller. I give thumbs up to the leadership of Mr Kweza, Mushonga, and others.
“Football is a pressure game, but as coaches, we work as psychologists to psych up our boys to get an outstanding performance.’’
Saruchera refused to be drawn into believing that the outcome of this massive season opener would have a bearing on the title destination.
“Playing MWOS in the first game is good, but I don’t think that will decide the championship at the end of the season. I believe that Samaita (Mutasa) is with me on this one,’’ he said.
Mutasa, was an ERSL expert having guided such teams as Highway and Kiglon (now defunct) and lately GreenFuel to success.
“I have won several times in terms of promotion, with Kiglon in 2006, my second one was with Highway the following year and GreenFuel in 2022, and we have Arthur Tutani, Bigboy Mawiwi also on three titles and also Yabo.
“Arthur is there again fighting for honours this year so it is going to be a dog-eat-dog affair.
“We want to give it our very best shot and the potential is there. In terms of the fight, it is going to be a good fight, I know MWOS will want to win the title, Rhinos will want it, and I am sure Cranborne Bullets, Harare City, Black Mambas, and even Golden Eagles . . . on paper, those are teams who are with no doubt, their vision is to go to the elite league.
“But football being football, there are surprise teams also, perennial campaigners like Karoi United, Trojan, Banket United, who have been around for quite a long time.
“You always get a good fight from Ngezi Under-19 and Herentals so it is a league that needs you to always be on your toes,’’ Mutasa said.
He revealed that he had secured some new players to try and buttress their quest for success.
“We have secured other players and the team is shaping up well. We are there to compete, we have got a strong side, and judging from the pre-season matches that we played against top clubs, Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United, we did very well.
“And if we are capable of matching such big teams, it shows that with the right mentality, we should be able to compete well.’’
Mutasa was charmed by the support his side had been receiving in Norton.
“During the pre-season, we had good support and that should be a plus factor on our part, we are doing it not just for MWOS as an institution but for the Norton community and the business people in the town . . . the more people come into the town for football the more business there is for them throughout the year.
“It could even increase if MWOS takes the ticket to the PSL’’.
Mutasa feels tomorrow’s showdown with the Rhinos could also give them an indication of how preparations have been grasped by the players.
Online Reporter