MWOS FC's quest for the ultimate prize in Zimbabwean football began with a tactical stalemate at Rufaro Stadium on Friday. However, coach Lloyd Mutasa believes the goalless draw against league debutants Hunters FC is only the first step in a campaign he hopes will surpass last season’s achievements.
Despite the lack of goals, the match served as a high-octane advertisement for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Both sides shunned conservative tactics, opting instead for brilliant attacking football that kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
For the Punters, it was an opportunity to integrate new faces after a window that saw the departure of heavyweights like Soccer Star finalist Abubakar Moffat, Warriors goalkeeper Martin Mapisa and the mercurial Nigel Matinha.
Last season, MWOS finished runners-up with 62 points from 34 matches, seven points behind champions Scottland FC.
After leading the race for much of the first half of the 2025 season, MWOS faltered in the second half, a slump that ultimately proved costly. This year, Mutasa is determined to ensure his side has the stamina to go the distance.
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"I want to believe this season will be tougher than the previous one. If you look at how teams are recruiting and how strong the squads are, it should make for an exciting campaign for Zimbabwean football. We are expecting a very tough season, but like most clubs, we want to do better than we did last year,” Mutasa said after the match."
The performance at Rufaro suggested that the brilliance that defined their debut season remains intact. New signing Marcelino Mlilo was a revelation, proving virtually unplayable on the wing. His pace and trickery constantly troubled the Hunters defence, and he came close to marking his debut with a goal when his ferocious strike from a tight angle rattled the upright just before the halftime whistle.
Mutasa was encouraged by the number of chances his side managed to create.
Returning attackers Billy Veremu, the club’s top scorer last term, and Arthur Banda showed why they are regarded as one of the most dangerous attacking duos in the top flight.
Defensively, the Punters looked solid. Francis Tizayi prDefensively, the Punters looked solid. Francis Tizayi delivered a commanding performance between the sticks, highlighted by a superb double save to deny Benjamin Goliath and Eli Ilunga, underlining that he is a more than capable successor to Mapisa.
The tireless work of Malvern Mudzuka and Tinotenda Mutyambizi in midfield ensured MWOS maintained a foothold in a match where the newcomers played with no fear.
Reflecting on the opening day point, Mutasa remained pragmatic but focused on his squad's evolution.
"I think we played our first game without giving the intensity we probably want, but we will take the point," Mutasa noted. "In the end, we had a few chances, getting into scoring areas, but instead of attempting, we were more worried about passing the ball, and we lost opportunities. But we will take back what we won."
Much is expected of Mutasa, who went on a week-long attachment at English giants Manchester City, along with his assistant Joseph Takaringofa and technical director Wilson Mutekede, about a month ago.
The road map to the title for MWOS likely hinges on their home form. If they can transform Ngoni Stadium in Norton into an impenetrable fortress, the dream of hoisting the trophy remains very much alive.
The first opportunity to ignite that home spark comes this week when they host TelOne FC this Saturday, with Mutasa’s men hunting for their first maximum points of the campaign.