Langton Nyakwenda, Zimpapers Sports Hub No debutant in Premier Soccer League history has ever lifted the title at the first time of asking—but the early signs from MWOS suggest this might be the year the underdog fairytale gets its happy ending. The Norton-based outfit, new kids on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League block, have not only defied the odds they are rewriting the script. After seven rounds of the 2025 campaign, they sit unbeaten at the summit of the league table with 17 points, three clear of reigning champions Simba Bhora. This afternoon, the two teams collide in a top-of-the-table showdown at Wadzanayi Stadium a fixture that carries the weight of history and the pressure of expectation. MWOS’ remarkable run isn’t just surprising, it’s statistically superior to anything achieved by past debutants, including some of the most celebrated newcomers in PSL lore. “We are meeting the defending champions, so it’s going to be another tough encounter,” said MWOS head coach Lloyd Mutasa, keeping expectations in check. “They’ve won three in a row. That says a lot about their pedigree.” Plenty of teams have made a splash in their first season, but none have done it quite like this. Not even the now-defunct Blackpool, who finished just four points behind champions Dynamos in their maiden 1994 season, started with this kind of swagger. Neither did Shabanie Mine, who came third in 2001 and won the BP League Cup the same year. FC Platinum were hailed as game-changers in 2011, armed with a star-studded squad and deep pockets, but even they stumbled twice in their first seven matches. ZPC Kariba famously went 19 games unbeaten in 2014, yet had only accumulated 13 points after seven rounds, four less than the current MWOS tally. In contrast, Mutasa’s Punters have managed six clean sheets from their opening seven games, stringing together three consecutive wins and conceding just once. It’s the kind of defensive steel and tactical discipline that sets contenders apart from pretenders. “We have been preparing well for such an encounter so that we play our best football, to get a positive result,” added Mutasa, who returns to Wadzanayi with a quiet confidence, having recently won there 1-0 against Herentals. Standing in MWOS’ path are the defending champions and Wadzanayi remains Simba Bhora’s impenetrable fortress. Joel Luphahla’s men have only lost once in their last 21 league fixtures at home, and they’re coming off a ruthless 4-1 dismantling of Manica Diamonds. But the coach is well aware of the threat MWOS pose. “It’s a difficult game to play against a top team coached by a top coach,” Luphahla admitted. “They don’t make mistakes, they are clinical and also play as a unit, so our work is cut out indeed. “But MWOS are also under pressure to defend their good start to the season. We’ll see how it goes but the boys are ready.” Simba Bhora’s mix of pedigree and passion, backed by home support, makes them formidable, but in MWOS, they face a team that has nothing to lose and everything to gain. The elite league has welcomed plenty of hopefuls in recent years Chicken Inn, Harare City, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Manica Diamonds, Bulawayo Chiefs, Yadah Stars, GreenFuel, Simba Bhora themselves, but none began their campaigns with seven unbeaten matches. In that regard, MWOS are trendsetters, pushing the boundaries of what a debut season can look like. Their story, so far, is one of discipline, belief, and a quiet revolution led by a coach who knows the pressures and possibilities of top-flight football. “We had a feel of the stadium,” Mutasa noted of their recent visit to Wadzanayi. “Now we return to face its owners. But we are ready.” Both teams bring momentum. Both boast a perfect recent record. But only one can emerge from this heavyweight battle with their unbeaten streak intact. Will Simba Bhora reassert their dominance and protect their turf? Or will MWOS take another bold step toward the history books? Whatever the outcome, this is more than a top-of-the-table clash it’s a story of two forces colliding, one trying to defend a crown, the other daring to dream the impossible. And if MWOS keep up their dazzling start, Zimbabwean football might just witness its most dramatic debut season yet. Keep an eye on this one – it could be a defining chapter in this season’s title race.