Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
PREMIERSHIP newcomers and pacesetters MWOS will confirm their place in the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League by winning at least one of the five matches set for this month.
Coach Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa has refused to talk about the title despite the impressive start with a modest squad where the current Premiership topscorer, Billy Veremu, is at MWOS on loan from reigning champions, Simba Bhora.
Veremu has 10 goals and five assists from the 18 games so far this season and the MWOS leadership is under pressure to secure a permanent deal for the former Bulawayo Chiefs hitman.
Mutasa has insisted that he is aiming at 40 points, which guarantees survival in their debut season, and they are just three points away from that target.
The five matches lined up for July provide MWOS with the perfect opportunity to secure Premiership survival, starting with Saturday’s home match against Bikita Minerals followed by Yadah (away), FC Platinum (home), ZPC Kariba (away) and Herentals College (home).
MWOS look set to raid the transfer market as the current squad was originally meant for another dance in the Northern Region Soccer League.
When they assumed the Premiership ticket originally secured by ZPC Hwange in the ZIFA Southern Region Division One, MWOS could only add four new players for the topflight and these were all defensive players, including goalkeeper Martin Mapisa.
Mutasa said yesterday, barring an intervention from the club leadership, he will use a better part of the second half of the season to give opportunities to some of the squad members who have not had game time.
“Our target in the first season in the league is to survive and I still believe 40 points will do the trick. So, we are three points away from that target and it will be a great thing if we are to achieve this early. This will allow us time to give the other squad members a chance to have a feel of Premiership football.”
He, however, does not rule out a review of targets which might force them onto the transfer market as the mid-season window has now opened.
“We stand guided by the club leadership, and we are almost there in terms of the original target of surviving relegation.
“If they are happy with that and there is no review, then we will use the remainder of the season to give chances to those players who have not had game time. It will also be an opportunity to give youngsters a chance to showcase their talent.
“There will be no pressure for instant results because we would have already achieved our goal. It might also be an opportunity for some of the fringe players to come out of their shells and show their real talent.
“But there is also a chance that the target might be reviewed to say a top eight finish or even top four. Such a review might require us to add at least one player for each department for purposes of depth.
“Any coach dreams of winning the league title and I will be available to pursue that target if the club leadership feels we have the capacity to beef up the squad and go for it. In the event that we have a higher, tougher target then we will have to enter the transfer market. We, will however, focus more on experience than big names,” said Mutasa.
