Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FROM the lows of Division One to the dizzying heights of the top league, MWOS are the surprise package of the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. Their extraordinary journey has been fuelled by an astute and impactful partnership with ZPC Hwange.
MWOS head coach, Lloyd Mutasa says their fine start to the campaign has been fuelled by the very struggles they faced in their promotion bid, a journey marked by setbacks, strategy and spiritual resolve.
“Obviously, the challenge is big, but I would like to say glory be to God. We are not doing this on our own. You will remember that it wasn’t easy for us to get into the elite league, and the youngsters are very much inspired to be in the topflight after a lot of challenges,” said Mutasa.
MWOS appeared to have missed out on PSL promotion when Scottland clinched the Northern Region Division One ticket. But instead of giving up, the club struck a strategic deal with ZPC Hwange, the Southern Region Division One champions, to gain entry into the top tier.
ZPC Hwange had secured promotion the hard way but could not take up the PSL slot due to league regulations prohibiting multiple teams owned or funded by the same entity.
The national power utility, which supports both ZPC Hwange and ZPC Kariba, fell under that clause.
Faced with this dilemma, ZPC Hwange sought a partner to honour their promotion and safeguard the region’s top-flight representation. MWOS stepped in with a comprehensive arrangement that saw them acquire the PSL slot, while ZPC Hwange returned to Division One with long-term financial and developmental support.
Now, just 10 games into their debut season, MWOS lead the PSL standings with 22 points, three ahead of second-placed Scottland and defending champions Simba Bhora, both are on 19. Highlanders are fourth with 17 points.
Their impressive start, capped by a confident and tactically sound performance in Bulawayo, has drawn praise from the wider football community. Mutasa credits their rise to the hunger of his players and the adversity they overcame. According to him, the emotional weight of their promotion journey has become a powerful driving force.
The collaboration between MWOS and ZPC Hwange is now being held up as a model of progressive football development. It blends MWOS’s financial capacity and technical expertise with ZPC Hwange’s deep roots in talent development and community football.
As part of the agreement, several players from ZPC Hwange’s 2024 promotion-winning squad have joined MWOS in the topflight. The team also received bonuses and recognition for their achievements.
MWOS has committed to upgrading ZPC Hwange’s football infrastructure, sponsoring youth and senior kits, and supporting grassroots football in the Hwange region. Additionally, the partnership includes technical support and performance incentives for ZPC Hwange players, along with broader corporate social investment initiatives in local communities.
What began as a Plan B has turned into a PSL masterstroke, a strategic alliance that’s now reshaping the local football landscape. As MWOS continue their remarkable run, their partnership with ZPC Hwange is proving fruitful both on the pitch and off it, laying the groundwork for long-term transformation in Zimbabwean football. — @innocentskizoe
Bongani Ndlovu