Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHAT began as a last-minute scramble to meet club licencing regulations has now sparked a bold transformation.
MWOS, who hastily assembled a women’s team to satisfy CAF club licencing requirements after purchasing a Premier Soccer League (PSL) franchise, are now turning that obligation into a long-term investment, committed to professionalising their women’s football project.
When the Norton-based outfit acquired the PSL slot from ZPC Hwange just before the season’s kick-off, building a women’s team was never part of their immediate agenda. Having just completed the Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) campaign in second place behind Scottland, MWOS were already planning to regroup in the lower league and aim for promotion in 2026.
“Assembling the women’s team was purely to meet licencing obligations; we weren’t sticking bullet by bullet to our original plan,” admitted club CEO Gift Chari. “We held one-day trials and simply went with what we believed was a decent starting point.”
However, the club has since revisited that approach. MWOS is now taking deliberate steps to professionalise its women’s side and align it with the club’s broader vision.
To that end, they will be holding fresh trials on June 21, 2025, at St Erics Secondary School in Norton.
The trials, which are only open to girls from Norton, mark the beginning of a more structured and community-centred approach.
“We’re not trying to shut anyone out,” Chari explained. “We believe charity begins at home. This is about giving back to our community and creating opportunities for girls right here in Norton.”
MWOS currently compete in the Northern Region Women’s Soccer League (NRWSL), where they sit seventh on the log with seven points from seven games.
League leaders Ngezi Platinum Queens have 19 points, while Jonah, Shedza and Scottland trail with 18, 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Although they are not chasing immediate glory this season, the club is laying the foundation for future success.
“We haven’t set any targets for this year, it’s all about acclimatising,” said Chari. “But from next season, we aim to field a more competitive team capable of challenging for promotion.”
To ensure growth and sustainability, MWOS plans to increase investment in the women’s side, covering everything from training and facilities to player welfare and salaries.
“We want to create an environment where women’s football can flourish,” Chari said. “It’s not just about ticking a box for club licencing. This is a project with heart, one that will bring joy to the community and transform lives.”
He added that remuneration will be a priority, as the club seeks to uplift young women through sport while embedding a deeper culture of football development in Norton.
In a country where women’s teams often operate in the background, MWOS is choosing a different path, one that takes women’s football seriously, not just as a side project, but as a core part of its sporting identity.
