Ngoni Stadium erupted with blue and red delight when Billy Veremu scored for MWOS FC against rivals Scottland on Saturday.
The lanky forward half volleyed home a rebound from close range after Nelson Chadya had parried away his initial effort to thrust MWOS ahead in arguably the biggest match of the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season so far.
Naturally, MWOS fans went into a frenzy when Veremu scored, considering the intense rivalry between the two ambitious Premiership debutants, which started in the Northern Region Soccer League last year.
The goal, which propelled the Punters to a crucial 1-0 over Mabviravira, was Veremu’s 9th of the season, in what has been a dream start to life at the Norton-based side.
Veremu’s exploits in front of goal have been apparent. He has found the back of the net in each of MWOS’ four league matches in the month of May, making him the favourite for the league’s Player of the Month award.
He is the league’s joint leading goal scorer with TelOne’s Washington Navaya.
Veremu’s adventures in front of goal for MWOS have been beautified by the fact that he rarely played football at Simba Bhora last year, before his loan move to The Punters.
A nagging groin injury kept him out of action for most of the 2024 season, which saw Simba winning their first league title.
Veremu recalls how frustrated he was by his predicament last season, saying it shattered him psychologically.
“Last year, I didn’t play much, but it started well for me. I remember scoring a goal on my debut at Simba Bhora, and then after a few games I developed groin problems,” reminiscences Veremu.
“It exhausted me mentally and physically, but thank God I had a strong support system which always picked me up whenever I was down. I would come on as a substitute, be it 10 minutes or even 5 minutes before the game ends, but I still gave it my all,” he said.
Veremu insists his desire to join MWOS was not fuelled by the club’s partnership with ZPC Hwange’s Southern Region team, which subsequently led them to promotion to the Premiership, as he had already decided to join The Punters well before the deal was made.
“When I heard MWOS wanted me, I was happy because I always had a soft spot for them. I joined them anticipating playing for them in Division One. The promotion came when I was already there (at MWOS), which shows you how much I wanted to be there,” explained Veremu.
For Veremu, the welcome he got at MWOS when he arrived there was pivotal.
“The reception I got at MWOS was key, and it made things somewhat easy for me to settle quickly. Coach Mutasa is just likeable. Pokello (Claude Mapoka) and Gift Saunyama were very nice, and I also met Wilson Mensah there, with whom we shared the dressing room at Simba, so it helped me a lot.
“I blended well with my teammates. The fans were also amazing, and they constructively motivated us to try to do better,” recalls Veremu.
His goal on Saturday sunk the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached Scottland.
Ndiraya was Veremu’s coach at Simba last year, but the soft-spoken forward doesn’t blame the title-winning gaffer for his lack of opportunities at the Shamva-based side.
He didn’t have any point to prove to Ndiraya.
“I can’t really fault Ndiraya for not giving me game time. I had groin issues, and when I became fit, the team was winning, and I didn’t expect the coach to change a winning team,” said Veremu.
“He even gave me some minutes as a substitute, which was something I appreciated a lot. I had no point to prove, and the goal, though it was an icing on the cake, came about naturally because it was a derby,” he added.
Veremu revealed that his ambition is to be the top goal scorer this season – a desire which MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa believes is possible, judging by the forward’s hard work.
The seasoned coach has nothing but praise for Veremu.
“The boy is a workaholic whose work ethic is amazing. I can only expect him to achieve great things this season,” said Mutasa.
