MWOS FC Defy Odds to Top Table… But Mutasa Stays Grounded: “Survival is the Target”

MWOS FC, the Premiership’s fairy-tale newcomers, continue to rewrite the script of their debut season. A 1-0 victory over Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Saturday propelled them three points clear atop the Premier Soccer League (PSL) table—yet head coach Lloyd Mutasa remains defiantly unflinching. “We want to stay afloat; that’s the main target: avoid relegation,” he insisted, even as his side’s historic unbeaten streak swelled to ten games.

The Punters aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving. With 10 games gone, MWOS have shattered a 40-year record previously held by Black Rhinos (1984) for the longest unbeaten run by a debutant (8 games). Their campaign reads like a blockbuster: a 1-0 scalp of giants Dynamos FC at their fortress, MWOS Ngoni Stadium; a dogged defensive masterclass to stifle defending champions Simba Bhora on hostile turf; and a heart-stopping 83rd-minute penalty from Salif Cheya to rescue a draw against Manica Diamonds after staring defeat in the face.

“They’re not here to make up the numbers,” said renowned sportscaster Charles Mabika.

Saturday’s clash against Chicken Inn typified MWOS’s season: pragmatic, patient, and punctuated by moments of brilliance. A cagey first half exploded into life when Nigel Matinha curled a 37th-minute pearl into the top corner. But the real drama unfolded off the ball. Midfield linchpin Mathew Sergio Murambiwa, ever present until now, collapsed after a clash of heads and was stretchered off, casting a shadow over the celebrations.

While fans dare to dream of silverware, Mutasa refuses to blink. “We’re new here. The priority is consistency, not trophies,” he stressed. Yet the numbers scream otherwise: MWOS boast the league’s meanest defence (2 goals conceded) and a knack for grinding out results.

Critics argue their fixtures have been kind—but silencing Dynamos, outsmarting Simba Bhora, and battling Manica Diamonds to a standstill suggest otherwise. “They’ve got the mentality of champions,” noted some pundits. “But Mutasa’s playing it smart—keeping pressure off his players.”

With a three-point cushion and momentum on their side, MWOS now face a litmus test: maintaining composure as the chasing pack—Simba Bhora, Scottland, and resurgent Highlanders FC—lurk. Next is a clash against fifth-placed TelOne FC at MWOS Ngoni Stadium.