Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
MWOS U-19 coach Wonder Ngoko said the competitive nature of the Northern Region Soccer League can help the Young Punters excel in the ZIFA Munhumutapa Cup.
The Norton outfit secured their path into the last 32 of the country’s biggest knock-out tournament after beating Central Region Soccer League side Chapungu 1-0 last weekend.
They joined their NRSL rivals Karoi United and FC Oden, who also secured their progress to the Round-of-32 whose draw will be held soon.
After some gruelling battles, which included more than 400 teams from area zones, provinces, and regions, only 14 teams have now joined the 18 in the Premier Soccer League in the elite phase of the competition.
And Ngoko has attributed his team’s outstanding show in which they knocked out several tough opponents to the high competition levels they are exposed to in the NRSL.
“The Northern Region Soccer League features a lot of big teams, and the competition ranks high up there on the list of the most competitive leagues in the country,” said Ngoko.
“Black Rhinos, Harare City, Banket United, Cranborne Bullets, and Black Mambas, among other teams in the NRSL, that can actually compete against the best in this country.
“And we are exposed to the high-pitched competition week in and week out.
“I think that helped prepare our boys’ mentality and resilience going into the initial phases of the ZIFA Munhumutapa Cup tournament.
“Every team in the league wants to compete, and that’s how we are growing as teams in the NRSL. Our encounters in the league have really helped shape up the boys mentally and tactically, allowing us to go into each new game with a positive mindset and improvements from the last game.
“I really believe we are going to go far in this tournament due to this background.”
