Online Reporter
Mugove Chigada
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE 2025 Castle Lager Premiership campaign has been a whirlwind ride, and coach Lloyd Mutasa’s MWOS have been in the eye of the storm.
It’s no surprise that Mutasa has been voted Coach of the Month for April. Nothing can be taken away from “Father”.
That he has achieved this with a team playing in the Premiership for the first time since its formation speaks volumes, this is no small feat.
But hiding in plain sight is Joel Luphahla.
According to the five-match period from April 5 to May 1, Luphahla’s Simba Bhora collected 13 points, compared to MWOS’s 11.
It’s reason enough for a heated debate.
In an exclusive interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday, former Warriors utility man Cephas Chimedza gave a balanced view of the situation.
“Personally, I have always said Coach of the Month or of the Year should be the one with the most points. These are straightforward awards,” said Chimedza.
“It’s like in a race, giving the guy who came third the gold medal because he exceeded expectations.”
During that stretch, MWOS beat ZPC Kariba 1–0, dismissed Herentals 1–0, edged Dynamos 1–0, drew 0–0 with Simba Bhora and drew 1–1 with Manica Diamonds.
Simba Bhora, on the other hand, edged TelOne 1–0, demolished Manica Diamonds 4–1, beat Chicken Inn 1–0, drew with MWOS, and got the better of Kwekwe United 2–1.
Those are the numbers.
In the process, Simba Bhora scored eight goals and conceded two. MWOS scored four and conceded one.
Chimedza said Mutasa’s situation with MWOS, however, cannot be ignored. He indicated that the club’s debutant status is, to an extent, a significant factor.
“I think in a way that’s how it was looked at, and for most people MWOS have surprised them,” he added.
Still, Luphahla’s case remains just as compelling, given this is also his debut season as a head coach in the Premiership.
Before taking charge of Simba Bhora, he had coached in Division One and served as an assistant in the Premiership, at both Dynamos and Highlanders.
“From the first time he coached Golden Eagles and then TelOne, I heard a lot of positive things. And also his work at TelOne showed he was a good coach. So I’m not surprised he has done well at Simba, a team that supports coaches,” said Chimedza.
Chimedza played alongside Luphahla for the Warriors, their most memorable spell coming during the AFCON finals.
Asked if he ever thought Luphahla would become a good coach, he said:
“If the truth be told, as a player I can’t say it was visible. He was more of a funny and joking guy.”
Away from Mutasa and Luphahla, the five-match period under review also throws up other perspectives that are hard to ignore.
After a blistering start to the season, which saw him named Coach of the Month for March, April has been a train smash for Ngezi Platinum’s Takesure Chiragwi.
He collected only five points from a possible 15, losing a lot of ground in the process.
Scottland’s Tonderai Ndiraya and Highlanders’ Kelvin Kaindu, with nine points apiece, were the third-best coaches in April.
Washington Navaya deserves credit for delivering the rarest commodity in the Premiership, goals. But another debate lingers: was there really no player from April’s top four, MWOS, Simba Bhora, Scottland, or Highlanders, good enough to claim the Player of the Month honour?
CAPS United had a period to forget, managing just three points, a lone win against Yadah.
Chimedza believes his former club, currently making technical changes, will eventually turn things around.
“They’ll get back on the right track. It’s just a wobble,” said Chimedza.
And then there’s the Dynamos verdict.
Kwekwe’s failure to travel for a match against Herentals cannot be condoned, but it is telling that they share the bottom of the five-match table with Dynamos, on just two points.
That perhaps sums up Dynamos’ struggles, and it’s fair to say Lloyd Chigowe is statistically the worst coach for the month of April.
April 5 – May 1 (5 Match Days)
P W D L F A Pts
SIMBA 5 4 1 0 8 2 13
MWOS 5 3 2 0 4 1 11
