Wiser and mature Wisdom Mutasa dreams again

Langton Nyakwenda

FOR Wisdom Mutasa, the last decade has been more like an emotional roller coaster.

He has experienced different types of emotions, from happiness, frustration, anxiety and guilt to sadness.

Being the son of a former star player has not helped his cause either.

His father Lloyd, who was a gifted midfielder, dazzled for Tanganda and Dynamos.

He was also part of the historic Dynamos side that lost to ASEC Mimosas in the 1998 CAF Champions League final.

That was the first and only time a local side has played the final of a CAF inter-club competition.

So, when Wisdom made his Premier Soccer League debut with the now-defunct Motor Action on a sunny afternoon on August 15, 2013, he gave many football fans reason to believe he would fill his father’s big shoes.

Wisdom fortuitously made his debut against Dynamos, the team that gave his father fame.

He was only 18 but stood toe-to-toe against his more fancied opponents, albeit in a losing cause, as the Mighty Bulls suffered a 0-1 defeat.

Motor Action were relegated at the end of that season, but Wisdom had done enough to convince Norman Mapeza and the experienced coach lured him to FC Platinum.

That was to be the beginning of a topsy-turvy football journey for Wisdom, who, at some point, was rated better than his father by the legendary Sunday Chidzambwa.

“He (Lloyd) was superb; he had a vision and could change the game with a single pass.

“The son (Wisdom) is also good at passing. He sees space where some cannot.

“I think in this aspect, he surpasses his father,” reckoned Chidzambwa, when he coached Wisdom at ZPC Kariba in 2016.

So deadly was the youngster that another top coach Kalisto Pasuwa made him captain of the Zimbabwe Under-23 squad at the 2015 African Games.

But his form just abruptly dipped after he left ZPC Kariba.

In October 2015, he and his compatriot Walter Musona unceremoniously returned home after dumping Slovakia top-flight outfit SK Senec.

Wisdom’s other stints with CAPS United, Dynamos and Black Rhinos were also fruitless.

He even tried his luck in Mozambique.

Now 28, Wisdom is yet to fulfil the potential he showed a decade ago.

He reunited with his father at ambitious Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) side MWOS last season.

The pair had previously worked together at DeMbare in 2016, before their relationship soured because of Wisdom’s “truant behaviour”.

Wisdom claims he is now a bit more mature to work with his father.

“It’s always a nice feeling playing under your father, especially now that I feel I am a bit more mature,” Mutasa told The Sunday Mail Sport.

It is clear Mutasa is out to revive a waning career.

He showed some glimpses of his old self when MWOS played Dynamos in a goalless friendly at Ngoni Stadium in Norton last weekend.

“I am finding this move to MWOS to be a great one because the team has big ambitions.”

After faltering in last season’s NRSL race, MWOS have made some notable additions to their squad ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Former Dynamos defender Peace Makaha, ex-Harare City goalkeeper Kelvin Shangiwa and winger Bright Majamanda, who was at Green Fuel, have joined the club.

Kith Chigodora, Ashford Nyamajiwa, Evidence Tendayi, Edson Gavara, Nigel Matina, Aristotle Manyamba, Gamu Chikengezha and Innocent Masiwa are also now with “The Punters’’.

“We have a very good squad and I feel I still have something to offer. I have some years ahead of me to showcase my talent and make sure I make hay while the sun still shines,” added Wisdom.

Given their massive investment, MWOS are considered one of the favourites to win the 2024 Division One title.

In Lloyd, they have a vastly experienced coach who won the Eastern Region Division One championship with Green Fuel in 2022 and Highway in 2008.

“It’s a good feeling working with (my) father. He is my role model and I get to know the tricks of the game from the master himself.

“Expectations are high because we are MWOS, but we have to handle the pressure that comes with it.

“My wish is to win the title with my father. We will have two medals at our house!”

But Lloyd is under no illusion about his target.

“It’s not a secret that we want that ticket to go to the Premiership.

“We have made some additions to the squad, and I am happy last week we went pound for pound with Dynamos.’’

The NRSL was among the best entertaining leagues last year and fans can once again expect an intriguing race this term following the return of Black Rhinos, who are now being coached by veteran gaffer Nesbert Saruchera.

Golden Eagles, Black Mambas, Trojan and Herentals U-20, Harare City and Cranborne Bullets are also expected to put up a big fight.

X: @LangtonGuraz