THE Northern Region Soccer League has confirmed that the 2017 Coach of the Year Award will go to Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva of Herentals Football Club.

Mutiwekuziva, who guided Herentals to their maiden NRSL championship, was announced as the best coach during the Soccer Star selection event in the capital on Sunday.

“What we normally do here in the Northern Region is that the coach who wins the league automatically becomes the Coach of the Year,” NRSL secretary general, Sweeney Mushonga, said.

“So in that case we would like to congratulate coach Kumbirai of Herentals Football Club for being the Coach of the Year for 2017.”

Mutiwekuziva, a CAF A License holder, will receive his prize during an awards ceremony whose date will be publicised in due course.

“I feel good and rewarded for the hard work done. It’s not an easy task but perseverance pays. It makes me self-actualise after being rewarded,” said Mutiwekuziva.

Meanwhile, Herentals continued reaching out to communities in various suburbs as they try to garner as much supporters as they can towards their Premiership debut next year.

This time, Herentals familiarised themselves with their supporters in Chitungwiza who also had the opportunity to be up close and personal with the NRSL champions.

“We are building relationships for 2018 with our supporters,” Herentals manager, Oliver Chirenga said.

“This is what we need and this will take us far in the Premier League. The response we had in Chitungwiza was overwhelming. It was a full house and everyone is behind us.”

This nationwide programme has seen Herentals spread their wings in Harare, Bindura, Shamva and Chitungwiza thus far.

Herentals’ spectatorship is pegged at 5000 and the target is to double if not treble the number by the time the 2018 Premiership season kicks off.