IF the Premier Soccer League fixture computer was trying to bully new boys Hunters, it failed spectacularly.
The Marondera-based side were supposed to be the league’s early-season punching bags, slated for a brutal opening stretch against last season’s runners-up MWOS and 2024 champions Simba Bhora.
Instead, the newcomers have emerged with two clean sheets, two points, and a reputation for being one of the league’s most exciting teams.
After a gritty debut draw against MWOS, Hunters travelled to the cauldron of Wadzanayi Stadium on Saturday. There, they didn’t just survive—they dominated defensively, stifling Simba Bhora to a goalless stalemate that left the former champions scratching their heads.
Hunters' coach Nesbert Saruchera is visibly pleased with how his charges have navigated the early storm.
While many predicted a baptism of fire, the veteran coach sees a team that is already comfortable in the heat of the top flight.
"Out of the two games that we have played, they were not easy, but we managed not to lose, which is positive on our part," Saruchera said.
"We’ve faced the league’s big teams, including former champions, and still held our own. It proves the pedigree of this squad."
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While the points tally sits at two, the manner of the performances—characterised by crisp, fluid passing and tactical maturity—has quickly won over supporters and neutral fans alike.
Saruchera warned the rest of the league that his "Hunters" are only just getting started.
"We are getting stronger and stronger... fitter and fitter, so maybe in the coming games, we will get an even better result," he added.
The squad has undergone a complete metamorphosis from the one that secured promotion. Experience has been prioritised, with household names like former Dynamos stars Denver Mukamba and Vusa Ngwenya, Bothwell Nzori, Praise Tonha, Michael Tapera, Eli Ilunga, and goalkeeper Kelvin Shangiwa—the hero of back-to-back clean sheets—joining the ranks.
Competition for places is fierce, with Mukamba, Ngwenya, and Tapera finding it difficult to break into the starting lineup, underscoring the depth of Saruchera’s new-look squad.
The schedule shows no mercy: Hunters face former champions FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium on Wednesday, then take on defending title-holders Scottland this weekend.
Despite looming clashes with the league’s heavyweights, Saruchera keeps his focus grounded.
"We are a new team, so the main aim is survival. We want to stay in the league and be back next season," he said.
On paper, however, this is a squad built for more than survival. If they maintain their defensive solidity and sharpen their attack, Hunters might soon become the hunted at the top of the table.
