By Emmanuel Marambe
NORTHERN Region Soccer League (NRSL) log leaders, MWOS FC, are keeping their eyes on the big prize – gaining promotion to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) next year.
And the Norton-based NRSL pacesetters have dismissed as hogwash and untrue, reports that they were contemplating pulling out of the league at a time they are involved in a hammer and tongs tussle with Scottland FC for the right to play in the PSL next year.
This comes as Scottland has been cranking the heat on MWOS, with last week’s 7-0 massacre of Norton Community FC, setting tensions in the NSRL – whose leadership’s running of the league has been praised by many football stakeholders.
MWOS chairman, Patrick Tamson, yesterday told the Daily News that his side would not be pulling out of the NSRL. “We have worked hard to get where we are and we are also aware that this is now squeaky bum time in the title race.
“Obviously, we have had some frustrating results in the last few weeks, but that is all part of the game and all we have to do is remain focused on making sure we deliver the required results in the remaining five games.
“If we win all our remaining games, we will win the title and achieve our goal of playing premiership football,” Tamson told the Daily News. Tamson said they have learned their lessons from last year’s campaign during which they lost their way in the NRSL title race.
He said this time around, MWOS were determined to overcome any underhand tactics that teams are using against them. Tamson said there was no bad blood between MWOS and Scottland, while insisting that his team had the mentality to ride through the pressure in the remaining games.
“This is the business end of the season and whoever has the stronger mentality will come out on top,” Tamson further told the Daily News.
The MWOS chairman said his team had thus far, shown the pedigree to withstand frustrations and dark arts that some of its opponents used to derail their title charge. “A number of sides have tried to frustrate us through playing mind games during our games, but we have remained calm and stayed focused on achieving the best possible results,” said Tamson.
“The same spirit has cascaded to our fans who have also had to deal with the taunting from opposition fans in some of our matches. “We faced issues in Banket and in Karoi. And another team which we played against at our home ground in Norton, also sought to distract us by insulting us.
“But I would like to salute our fans for maintaining their calm demeanour throughout. “The people of Norton have really thrown their weight behind us and conducted themselves in an exemplary manner and we would love to reward them with some strong performances so that at the end of the season we win this league,” he added.
For the first time in years, the local Division One race, particularly in the NRSL, is rivalling the PSL in terms of fan attention — amid the emergence of formidable teams such as MWOS FC, Black Rhinos, Harare City, Golden Eagles and Scottland.
And while a number of sides had threatened to make the NRSL title race, MWOS FC and Scottland FC have broken away from the rest and turned it into a two horse race. With just a few weeks left in the campaign, it is MWOS FC who still lead the race with 72 points, three ahead of Scottland who have played a game less.
The log leaders, on their part, have seen second-placed Scottland cut into their lead over the last few weeks following a couple of frustrating results.
The Lloyd Mutasa-coached side have dropped points in three of their last five matches – a one-all draw at home to Chinhoyi Stars on September 21, another one-all draw away to Banket United on October 5 — before last weekend’s one-all stalemate with Trojan Stars at home. In between the draw with Chinhoyi and the one against Banket, were wins over DZ Royal Stars (2-1) and Zambezi Gas & Coal (2-0).
And with a match against another tough opponent in the form of fifth-placed Golden Eagles at Ellis Robins High School Grounds today, the log leaders are keen to return to winning ways and maintain their title push. NRSL Matchday 34 fixtures:
Today: DZ Royal Stars v Harare City (Commando Bullets), Black Mambas v Herentals U20 FC (Mkushi Academy Grounds), Chinhoyi Stars v Scottland FC (Chinhoyi Stadium), Golden Eagles v MWOS FC (Ellis Robins High School)
Tomorrow: Trojan Stars v Karoi United (Trojan Mine Stadium), Banket United v Shamva Mine (Kuwadzana Stadium), Zambezi Gas & Coal v Cranborne Bullets (Centenary High School), Norton
Community v Black Rhinos (Ngoni Stadium), Agama FC v Ngezi U19 FC (Pfura Stadium) Sunday: CCLee Mhangura v Pam FC (Mhangura Stadium)