Blood vs Badge: Mutasa torn by facing sons Wisdom and Panashe in PSL

MWOS FC coach Lloyd Mutasa says his most heart-wrenching challenge in the PSL has been coaching against his two sons, Wisdom and Panashe.

Mutasa, a veteran in his own right, carved out a legacy both playing for and coaching Dynamos — the same club where his eldest son, Wisdom, now plies his trade. His younger son, Panashe Mutasa, is on the books of struggling TelOne FC.

The fact that his sons now line up against him in the PSL has added a complex emotional layer to Mutasa’s career. Where most coaches study opponents on video, Mutasa studies his own blood.

The father-son dynamic flips when the whistle blows. Respect remains, but so does rivalry. For Mutasa, it’s pride mixed with pain — pride in seeing Wisdom command Dynamos’ midfield and Panashe fight for TelOne’s survival. Pain in having to plot their downfall for 90 minutes.

On Saturday, Mutasa watched as Panashe was introduced by Saul Chaminuka in the second half and provided an assist for TelOne’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Ascot Stadium.

Coach Llyod Mutasa and his son Panashe Mutasa after TelOne FC and MWOS FC match at Ascot stadium. Picture by TelOne FC/Robert Gava

‘DAD, I WANT TO BEAT YOU’: MUTASA’S SONS ALWAYS SAY

It’s a unique PSL subplot: a father coaching against his sons. And for Mutasa, every match against Dynamos and TelOne FC now carries double the weight.

“I think, you know, I want to believe this might be my last time coming to play against these boys. I played with them before, and honestly, your heart is never really settled in games like this,” Mutasa said.

“Every time we line up against each other, they’re saying, ‘Dad, I want to beat you. I want to show you I’ve become my own man.’ But this time around, I told them — you won’t beat us. It’s tough, because I’m proud of them, but on the pitch, I still have to prove I’m not done yet.”

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