dyton mupawaenda
Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa feels that his team’s dominance of the Northern Region Soccer League awards for May is a huge confidence booster in their quest for Premiership promotion.
Mutasa was yesterday named the Allied Insurance Coach of the Month for May.
The former Dynamos coach kept MWOS among the early pacesetters when guiding them to four victories in the five games they played during the period under review.
Mutasa collected 13 out of the possible 15 points with only the share of spoils in the draw against then-log leaders Harare City, thwarting his bid for a 100 percent record.
MWOS opened the month of May with a 2-0 win over DZ Royal Stars, which they followed up with victories over Chinhoyi Stars (1-0), Cranborne Bullets (1-0), and Shamva Mine (4-0). Although they have kept in touch with the chasing pack, they are now in third place, having slid into that position following a shock 1-0 defeat against Zambezi last weekend.
But the ex-Kiglon, FC Platinum, and Highway coach had done enough in May to ensure his team stayed on course to fulfilling their promotion ambitions.
“It is very encouraging to win the Coach of the Month award. I owe it to the whole technical team, the sponsors, supporters and players. It feels good to be the second coach to win such an award,’’ Mutasa said.
“We want to keep on doing well and remain in the championship race. As a team, we are progressing well and we are looking forward to the upcoming games despite last week’s loss to Zambezi Coal and Gas. We will try and make up at our next home game against Banket United.’’
MWOS made a near-clean sweep of the accolades as Kevin Shangiwa won the LM Auctioneers Goalkeeper of the Month after he maintained five clean sheets in as many games.
Shangiwa, a seasoned goalkeeper, has previously played for Harare City and he attributed his award to teamwork.
“I am happy with this award but it is through teamwork that I managed.’’
Tafadzwa George completed the MWOS players who made it into the May winners’ podium after he was voted the LM Auctions Player of the Month. The 18-year-old DZ Academy graduate, who began his career six years ago, was already tipped to be the man to watch this season after his dazzling man of the match performance against Black Rhinos in the season opener which they won 2-1.
He revealed that he comes from a football-playing family.
“My father was also a football player, so he raised me in a football environment and encouraged me to play the game,” George said.
George was also instrumental in MWOS’ near success in 2023.
Had it not been for Jeremiah Makangira of Norton Community, MWOS would have made it a clean sweep of the awards.
He won the Breakfront Car Hire and Travel Top goal scorer of the Month for May.
Makangira scored three times on his way to winning the award.
Online Reporter