Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
MWOS defender Valentine Katsande has refused to rule the Punters out of the Premier Soccer League contention despite the Norton outfit trailing the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log leaders Scottland by 11 points.
Lloyd Mutasa’s men have been erratic this term, struggling to consistently strike the right chords.
They were literally flying in their maiden season last year, with only a point separating them from Scottland after 18 games having gone for the first 16 matches unbeaten.
It has, however, been a different tale this season, with MWOS down the ladder in ninth place with 26 points.
The outlook though is different with the league apparently as competitive as ever this term.
Katsande, while acknowledging their own shortfalls, still believes the Punters can ultimately have a say in the destiny of the league title this season.
“I will tell you that we are never lacking in effort and motivation as a team,” said Katsande.
“The league is very tough this season. There are certainly no easy opponents whether you are on top or down the table, every game, you have to sweat for victory.
“That’s how it is this year. We have been punching well as a team. But you know, football can be cruel at times no matter how much you are fighting.
“On our part, maybe that’s what they call it the Second Season Syndrome where you drop in form after having a flier in your first season.
“But I would also like to believe luck hasn’t been on our side.”
The former Black Rhinos player has, in recent games, been pushing into advanced roles on the pitch to help the team to try and get some goals, which have been their main source of worry.
Katsande played as a striker, mostly, at the army side and scored a lot of goals.
At MWOS, he has started all the 18 games this season, deployed as one of a three-man defensive unit that also has Reginald Chinemo and Innocent Zambezi.
The Punters have been outstanding at the back, and they have the third-best defence in the league after Scottland and Hardrock, having conceded 12 goals in the period under review.
Contrastingly, their attack has been blunt, hitting the net only 16 times, the same as 13th-placed Bulawayo Chiefs.
“I think that’s where we have been lacking. Scoring goals is a real challenge for us this year.
“Look, we are creating a lot of chances but luck hasn’t been on our side. At times we just miss our range and sometimes we can even just hit the frame of the goal.
“But once we start scoring, I think we will be able to cover the gap between us and the leading pack. That’s how we can climb up the ladder. There is a lot of football still to be played this season.
“We will keep on fighting and see where we will be, come the end of the season,” he said.
MWOS head to Gweru tomorrow for a date against strugglers TelOne.
“What we just have to do is play well and try to win the game so that we can push our goal forward.
“That’s what we want to do. Everyone in the team is eager to perform well for the team.
“We will try to score goals. Well, if the coach wants to push me forward, I will be ready for that. I play where the coach deploys me.
“I am very comfortable playing at the back where we have done well. Now we have to convert that compact defence into sharp attack for us to win games.” Mutasa said his team is looking sharp and they are well focused for the game against TelOne.
