MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa has, on two separate occasions this season, revealed that he almost quit coaching at the end of last year.
On the second occasion, speaking to the media after the Punters’ crucial 2-1 come-from-behind victory over CAPS United at Ngoni Stadium three weeks ago, the seasoned gaffer fought back tears.
Mutasa’s decision to contemplate quitting the beautiful game was fuelled by what happened in the Northern Region Soccer League last year.
“I almost quit coaching because of what happened last year,” Mutasa said.
MWOS were in a nail-biting race for promotion with Scottland, which ended up being a circus, as the Mabvuku-based side won it via a controversial boardroom decision.
Scottland were awarded three points for their abandoned game against Karoi United and won the title by one point, leaving Mutasa, his MWOS charges and the entire Norton community shattered.
Failing to secure MWOS promotion, having led the race by seven points at some point during the season, was a blow which almost took Mutasa down.
It was a season which had its own share of struggles for Mutasa.
But fate had other ideas, and the soft-spoken coach is revelling in MWOS’s fairytale start to life in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after the Clayton Arimoso-led executive struck a deal with ZPC Hwange to secure promotion through the Southern Region slot.
The Punters are on top of the table with 37 points after 18 rounds of fixtures.
MWOS have tasted just one defeat, and while some reckon their form in the Premiership is a bubble which will burst, others who see football through objective lenses believe the Punters are genuine title contenders.
They (MWOS) have beaten Highlanders (twice), Dynamos, CAPS United, and arch-rivals Scottland in a dream debut season in the Premiership.
They welcome Bikita Minerals at Ngoni Stadium today, looking for a victory to remain at the summit of the table.
Despite MWOS’s fairytale run, Mutasa is still insisting that the Punters’ target is merely surviving relegation.
“Our objective is to keep on fighting so that we stay afloat.” Mutasa
