MWOS FC Edge Chicken Inn to Reclaim Top Spot
In a clash dripping with tension, tactical chess, and a sprinkle of late drama, MWOS FC clawed their way back to the Premier League summit with a 1-0 victory over Chicken Inn at a raucous Luveve Stadium. The result, fuelled by Nigel Matinha’s moment of magic and a defensive masterclass, saw The Punters capitalise on Simba Bhora’s earlier stumble to carve out a three-point cushion at the pinnacle of Zimbabwean football.
Before a single ball was kicked, MWOS FC’s fate was predetermined. Simba Bhora’s goalless stalemate against Green Fuel 24 hours prior handed Lloyd Mutasa’s men a golden ticket: win and reclaim top spot. And win they did—though not without navigating a rollercoaster of nerves, injuries, and tactical warfare.
“We’ll take every game as it comes,” Mutasa had declared pre-match, his words dripping with the cautious optimism of a gaffer who knows the weight of goingck to the top of the table. By full-time, his side had turned caution into conviction.
The opening exchanges were a cagey affair, with both sides probing like boxers in a title fight. Chicken Inn’s high press clashed with MWOS’s patient buildup, but clear chances were as rare as a quiet moment in a derby. That changed in the 37th minute, when Billy Veremu—a livewire on the left flank—slipped a devilish low cross into the path of Nigel Matinha. The winger, lurking on the edge of the box, took one touch to steady himself before unleashing a rocket that curled into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted. Cue bedlam in the stands.
“Matinha’s strike was pure filth—no keeper saves that,” roared one fan post-match. The punters’ bench erupted, but the joy was short-lived.
Just three minutes after the goal, the stadium fell eerily silent. Mathew Sergio Murambiwa—a titan in midfield and the league’s very own Iron Man, having played every minute this season—crumpled to the turf clutching his chest. Earlier knocks to his head and ribcage had gone untreated, but the toll became too much. Medical staff sprinted onto the pitch, and after tense minutes, the warrior was stretchered off, replaced by Godfrey Manase at the break.
“He’s conscious, stable, and cracking jokes—a relief for all,” assured MWOS head of medical services Herbert Mashabe, though scans loom to determine the full extent. For a side built on grit, losing Murambiwa’s relentless engine could be a seismic blow.
If the first half was a fireworks display, the second was a trench battle. Chicken Inn threw bodies forward, but MWOS’s backline—marshalled by a composed white-kit-clad defence—stood firm. Mutasa’s men parked the bus, yes, but with style: intercepting passes, blocking shots, and frustrating their rivals into speculative efforts.
As the clock ticked into squeaky-bum time, Mutasa’s men held their nerve. The final whistle sparked scenes of pure delirium: players collapsed to their knees, fans roared like lions, and the gaffer pumped his fists—a statement win sealed.
“We’ve got breathing room, but this race is a marathon,” Mutasa warned post-match. Yet, as the Luveve faithful chanted “Famba MWOS Famba!” into the night, one thing was clear: MWOS FC are here to compete and not add numbers.