dyton mupawaenda
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
COMPETITION in the Northern Region Soccer League is poised to take a new dimension with newboys Oden vowing that they are not coming to make up numbers in the country’s second tier division.
Oden have also become the latest team from Chinhoyi in the NRSL, joining Chinhoyi Stars and Chinhoyi Rangers.
This means fans from the Mashonaland West provincial capital are guaranteed three potentially exciting derby clashes in the town.
Oden bought their way into the Division One after acquiring the franchise left vacant by Centenary United who failed to find affiliation fees needed to play in the league.
The 2025 NRSL championship campaign is expected to get underway tomorrow amid indications that the league were yesterday finalising some adjustments caused by the expulsion of Centenary United and the failure of some venues to meet the required standards for homologation.
Oden will join such clubs like Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera’s N’ombeyawora on the list of newboys.
Their arrival also boosts the number of Mashonaland West teams which also includes Chegutu Pirates, Karoi United and Banket United.
Oden team manager Tonderai Mada said their ambition is to bring competitive football to Chinhoyi while empowering local youth.
Mada said although the club only started playing in Mashonaland West Division Two last year, they had seized the opportunity to take a crack at the NRSL after finishing fifth in their league.
“We are a new team, we just started last year where we were playing in Mashonaland West Division Two.
“We finished fifth and had a chance to come through a franchise, and we embraced it,” Mada said.
He explained that the decision to step up was driven by a desire to change the football landscape in Chinhoyi, where he believes existing teams have not really shone.
“You look at Chinhoyi – there have been several teams doing football, but we didn’t agree with some of the ways they were run. We felt we needed to take up the challenge and take the onus of fighting for the community,” Mada said.
“It is a big challenge we took . . . to say we need to be the light within the chaos. We decided to take our own route for the upliftment of our community. We seek to empower the youth and give them an opportunity to shine.”
The Oden squad is largely composed of young, local talent, with only a few additions from established clubs.
Oden also brought in Venon Fombe from Triangle.
Their coach Munyaradzi Charuza also hails from Mashonaland West province.
Mada admitted that their transition to Division One football has been rushed, with the club having just a week to conduct trials, assemble a squad, and complete registration.
While they had just days to register their tram, their opponents in the league who include seasoned campaigners Harare City, Black Rhinos, Golden Eagles and Karoi United have had months to prepare as did Moses Chunga’s “returning residents’’ – Chegutu Pirates.
“It’s unfortunate that within a week, we had to conduct trials, pick a team, and register what others had all the time to do. But we are prepared and ready to learn as we go,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Mada emphasised that Oden will not use inexperience as an excuse.
He also believes that it was “time for a team from Mashonaland West to make an impact.
“Pressure will always be there. We are coming in as underdogs, but we are eager to change the narrative of teams from this side.
“We need to perform, no excuses,” he said.
Online Reporter