Bikita seek to end MWOS’ Ngoni record

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

THE platform upon which MWOS’ impressive start to life in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League has been their strong run at home.

MWOS are unbeaten at Ngoni, a stadium the club owners refurbished for the community in Norton.

The only defeat which the Premiership debutants have suffered came away at the hands of 2023 champions Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab on Match-day 17.

In fact, MWOS are one of only three sides in the 18-team league still to taste defeat at home.

Former champions FC Platinum, who are yet to taste defeat in the league this year and ZPC Kariba, are the other teams unbeaten at home this term.

But there is a resurgent outfit called Bikita Minerals threatening to wreck MWOS’ proud record.

MWOS have played nine times winning seven of the fixtures while the other two ended in draws, with the traditional giants Dynamos, CAPS United and Highlanders among the casualties on their visits to the punters.

However, when MWOS beat Bosso they were still using Baobab as their temporary home.

Tomorrow, MWOS will be hoping to add Bikita Minerals on their casualty list.

As usual, the atmosphere is expected to be charged with anticipation as fans rally behind their team, hoping for another successful outing.

MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa is, however cautiously optimistic.

“It will definitely not be an easy game, we are unbeaten at home so far and obviously every team that comes to play us at home will be guns blazing,” said Mutasa.

“The Norton community always comes out in numbers and disappointing them is never an option…we will give it our best.”

While Mutasa and MWOS hope to cling onto their position at the summit, he knows that all their opponents will now up their game when they visit Ngoni.

For Mutasa, it also about striking a balance between seeking to continue winning and also avoiding heaping pressure on his charges.

“We do not want to unnecessarily pressure the boys, our mission is to hit the 40 points mark and survive relegation which means that if today we collect maximum points, we have hit the target,” he said.

“However, it doesn’t mean we sit back and relax, MWOS culture is about giving it our all every day that we step onto the pitch and to fight until the last whistle.”

This focus on foundational goals, rather than dwelling on their current success, seems to be a key component of MWOS’ consistent performance.

With coach Wilson Mutekede back on COSAFA duties, his assistant Arnold Jani will once again take charge of the Lithium Boys.

Bikita have been buoyed by two identical 1-0 wins over Manica Diamonds and Chicken Inn.

That has seen them rise into 10th place with 22 points.

“The recent victories instilled confidence in the team, now they are determined and self-motivated to challenge MWOS,” said Jani.

“We will not let the venue or the atmosphere at Ngoni intimidate us, all we want is to go there and collect points so that we stay in a safe zone on the log.

“On the other hand, we would love to become the first team to break their unbeaten home run so we are leaving no stone unturned.”

However, odds suggest that Bikita will need to step up if they are to break the MWOS home run.

Their struggles away from home are well-documented, with statistics indicating they are bad travellers.

In their nine games away from home, Bikita have managed to secure only two wins, recording an equal number of draws, while the other five matches ended in defeat.

This poor track record on the road highlights the hurdle they must overcome to achieve a positive result against MWOS.