Former Warriors striker turns Gwanda side into PSL promotion contenders
Former Warriors striker Luke Petros has turned Blanket Mine FC into unbeaten contenders, steering the Gwanda side to nine wins and five draws from 14 Central Region Soccer League games.
On Wednesday, Petros’ team beat ZRP Gwanda 2-1 in the Gwanda derby to close the gap on leaders Chapungu FC. Chapungu were held 1-1 by Shurugwi FC at Makusha Stadium. They now lead with 33 points.
Blanket Mine sit second with 32 points, just one behind the log leaders.Kwekwe United are third on 30 points after a 2-0 win over FC Platinum U19 on Wednesday.
West Nicholson FC occupy fourth spot with 29 points, while Tongogara — the league’s other unbeaten side — are fifth on 26 points.
Petros, a former Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs striker, has a big reputation in the region. He led the now-defunct Whawha FC to the PSL twice. He was also part of the Sheasham FC technical team that missed promotion by a whisker to Hardrock FC.
‘THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS OUR MENTALITY’ SAYS LUKE PETROS
Blanket Mine FC players at Sabiwa Stadium. Picture by Blanket Mine FC
The former Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services officer has transformed Blanket Mine from a mid-table side into serious contenders for the 2026 PSL promotion ticket. Petros isn’t getting carried away despite the unbeaten run, saying the focus stays on the next 90 minutes.
“The biggest thing for me is our mentality. We’ve said from day one: next game is the only game. I’m not interested in promotion talk yet,” Petros told Fanzone.
“That’s why we are progressing — because the players have bought into that idea completely. No one is getting ahead of themselves. No one is reading too much into being unbeaten.
“We respect every opponent and we prepare the same way whether we’re playing first or last. There’s no pressure in that. Pressure comes when you start counting points before you earn them. We won’t do that. We’ll just keep playing our football, game by game, and see where it takes us.”
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