Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
BILLY VEREMU was at best a training aid at champions Simba Bhora last season.
He was rarely used, as he was down the pecking order at a team that had deadly strikers like Tymon Machope, Walter Musona and Harrison Masina.
Predictably, the former Ngezi Platinum U-19 forward had to be moved elsewhere just to get game time, and he found sanctuary at newbies MWOS at the start of the year.
And he is not only getting game-time, he has proven to be the X-Factor for the Norton club and the fiercest striker across the league.
“I know for sure that reaching 20 goals will be super fine for me since it has been over 14 years since a striker in the local league managed to hit that margin.
“It will be very good to be remembered as that player who finally equalled or exceeded that mark,” said Veremu.
He has remained humble, though as he reckons his primary concern is helping MWOS attain their set targets rather than pursuing personal glory. This is after hitting his ninth goal of the season on Saturday.
The 29-year-old forward is having the time of his life, scoring for fun at every turn.
Veremu squeezed the all-important goal that secured Lloyd Mutasa’s charges a win over bitter rivals Scottland at Ngoni Stadium. He is now the joint leading scorer alongside TelOne forward Washington Navaya. The win also helped unbeaten MWOS stretch their advantage at the top, ring-fencing their place at the summit with 30 points from 14 games.
Veremu has been phenomenal, scoring five goals in May and well on his way to reaching 20-something goals if he maintains his scoring ratio.
But the player says he is looking at the bigger picture.
“But that’s not my goal. I am here to play my part and see MWOS excel to a level where they can attain whatever their targets are.
“It’s as simple as that. I am a team player who should play his role for the good of the club. Where I can get in a good position to score, I should score, where I should drop deep to help in retrieving the ball from opponents, I should do that; and where I should set up a goal for a teammate, I should also do that. That’s the goal.”
This is the first time that the lanky striker has hit those numbers as his best season in the top-flight yielded six goals when he was still in the books of Bulawayo Chiefs in 2023. Then, he played a huge role in the Bulawayo side’s Chibuku Super Cup success story.
He was expected to explode when he transferred to Simba Bhora last year, but Veremu was limited to only a few minutes throughout the season before he was loaned out to MWOS.
And in Norton, he has hit the right chords, thanks mainly to Mutasa, whose methods Veremu always grasps quite well.
“I can’t really say there is a huge secret behind this purple patch, but I have been working really hard.
“A special shout out should go to my teammates and coaches led by Lloyd Mutasa.
“I should thank God for all this. MWOS are a team centred on God. It’s a prayerful team where everyone in the team puts God first,” he said.
“I think we are driven by faith. And with this we can reach far. That’s the aim. A different environment is proving good for me. I would like to thank coach Mutasa for believing in me.”
Mutasa said all his players have been doing a splendid job, but Veremu deserves special mention. The former Dynamos mentor removed his hat to salute Veremu when he came off after being substituted late in the game on Saturday.
“He is my joker,” said Mutasa.
“But all my players deserve a pat on the back. They have been phenomenal all season. I hope we will keep on getting the desired results.”
