Monomotapa turn on the style

penchant for attention to detail.
Monomotapa, champions in 2008, and one of the only two Zimbabwean clubs to play in the group stages of the Caf Champions League, have been playing good football in the league and their third position on the log, only behind Highlanders and Dynamos, testifies to that.
Since playing in the group stages of the Champions League 2009, the club has lost the entire team and recently another coach, but the new team built from the juniors has been offering lessons in developing teams.
Even though the club has lost five times in 19 matches this season (only Bosso and DeMbare have lost fewer games), they are in the top three of the league, their play has been a modification of their philosophy insisting on short passing and playing a high defensive line.
The Monoz technical team has built their progress on serious attention to detail. At each game they play, they gather all the necessary information for the team and, crucially, do have one of their assistants, George Jojo, taking down notes on opponents at every possible time.
That has helped the team plot against their opponents.
After enduring some unpleasant results, the coaching staff headed by Taurai Mangwiro, who has since crossed the floor to CAPS United, decided to employ the use of match analysis — gathering details and using the information to plan for games.
It is no coincidence that the team is playing well, while at the same time exhibiting brilliance that at times reach orgasmic levels of beauty.
The availability of data at their disposal makes it easier for the team to plan for their training sessions or games with wisdom.
While Jojo was not willing to reveal the amount of data the team has gathered, he said they have found the exercise rewarding.
“As a team with many young players, it was necessary for us to keep track of our players’ progress as that can help in decision making. Since we lose players every season, it became important to have a database for us to be able to quickly know where we need to improve or improvise.
“Younger players are always easy to deal with as they have the energy and can adapt better to application and changes. That has helped us in assessing technical ability and the necessary endurance levels of particular players,” said Jojo.
After defeating FC Platinum 3-0 in emphatic fashion at Mandava on Saturday, the silent, if not sleek progress of Monoz, could not go unnoticed for long.
It is also important to note they have already beaten Dynamos, Motor Action and CAPS United.
With their soaring confidence, their next engagement is against a Shabanie Mine side that has also shocked many neutrals by playing well.
Club chairman, Joseph Mukoki, told The Herald that they were not surprised by the team’s performance and progress.
“The executive and technical team always work closely, regularly meeting and giving updates, so we knew very well what the coaches have been trying to do.
“That is why we never panicked when we decided to part ways with Tau (Mangwiro) because both parties understood where we were coming from and going. It may be imperative to point out at this stage that we amicably parted ways after noticing that we were lacking consistence, winning only one match away from home against Buffaloes, while we dropped too many points against teams we knew we could easily beat.
“In that aspect, we put the future of the team ahead of our relations. Mangwiro is a wonderful coach and gentleman and has been involved in nurturing the same players who are playing well at the moment. We still send each other best wishes messages before matches. There is no animosity between us.
“Monoz are an open book club that prides itself in playing good football, trying to lay a marker on our identity. Even if we change coaches we never change the way we play, that is why it is difficult to notice there has been a change of coach as Biggie (Zuze) knows the brand we play,” said Mukoki.
A look at the team and manner they have been playing lately, one notices a swagger in their approach with the likes of Kuda Musharu, Madamombe, Hilary Mugoniwa, Brian Mapfumo and Morgan Mungombwe playing so well.
The often used 4-2-3-1 formation has given them the edge over most teams as that allows their most potent players a lot of time on the ball, passing life out of their opponents with monotonous regularity.
Crucially, for the side, their defence that leaked too many goals at the beginning of the season has been playing with some bruising physicality about them lately and the regular flashes of counter attacking brilliance saw them create more chances, especially against sides that display a serious drought of ideas.
Where most sides lack a bit of passing fluidity, bar Highlanders, Monoz have made passing their escape route to glory so much that Artwell Mukandi, the goalkeeper, has been playing as a sweeper, often starting moves from the back — a move that has made the side appear like they play with one more player in the side.
Their passing in defence gives them control of the game allowing midfielders to probe opposition areas forcing them off position and most of their goals come from such situations and it’s something that has been working well for Mugoniwa, Musharu and Ronald Chitiyo getting into the box quicker than opposition defenders, eliminating defensive linkmen in the process, while creating space to attack.
When opponents like Dynamos, with a strong midfield, tried to work the ball past that pressure, Monoz’s triumvirate wide forwards dropped deeper and Mugoniwa has been highly impressive on that left side.
His boundless energy has meant he is often able to occupy two opposition players.  With 36 points from 19 games and playing Shabanie Mine and Blue Rangers in the next matches, Monoz could well maintain their third position as they are four points better than fourth placed Chicken Inn.
They are yet to play both Dynamos and Bosso at Rufaro in the reverse fixture and it will be interesting how those matches could decide the title for this season.
But, on account of their performance, Monoz will be there or there-about when the final whistle blows.