admin
Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
TELONE coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa says there is everything to play for when the Castle Lager Premiership soccer championship race resumes this weekend after a two week mid-season break.
Maruwa, who inherited a struggling side, is aiming to stabilise the campaign of the Gweru-based side after ending the first half of the season in the relegation zone.
TelOne returned to the Premiership this season after spending about four years in the lower divisions. With 17 points from as many games, they face bleak prospects again.
Maruwa has so far managed to tame the culture of losing games by winning one, drawing three, and losing one in his five games in charge, and will be looking forward to stepping up in the second half.
“First things first, we need to make sure that we avoid relegation,” he told Zimpapers Sports.
“Survival is the most important thing at the moment so we have to make sure we move away from the relegation zone as early as possible. So, this means we need to win as many games as possible.”
The “Wi-Fi Boys”, who will be at home to welcome ZPC Kariba when the games resume this Saturday, have so far taken advantage of the mid-season transfer window to add three new players.
They have brought in former CAPS United defender Tafadzwa Jaravani, midfielder Xolisani Moyo, and veteran goalkeeper Chris Mverechena, who was at GreenFuel.
Maruwa is concerned after the side conceded 23 goals, which is the most by any team in the Premiership after 17 games.
“We added a defender a midfielder and a goalkeeper. We needed the experience and we are still looking around to see if we can add more players to strengthen our team.
“But our main concern if you ask me is on working more on the team’s fitness. I realised the fitness levels were not okay and this is something that can be corrected,” said Maruwa.
TelOne are among the four teams in the relegation zone along with new boys Chegutu Pirates, Hwange, and Arenel Movers.
Farai Tawachera’s Arenel Movers occupy the bottom place with one win to show for their efforts in the error-strewn first-half campaign.
They have 11 points in the bag and have experienced eight draws and eight defeats.
Tawachera, however, believes they still have everything to fight for as they are separated by just seven points with the team occupying the first position of safety — Yadah.
“In terms of rebooting the team, we are just trying to look for one or two players in crucial areas like the attack. Generally, we are looking to continue with our youngsters.
“I am sure they have learnt so much about Premiership in the first 17 games, although they did it the hard way. But I am confident these youngsters will show up in the second half of the season.
“We have reached a stage where we can no longer make mistakes like we did in the first half of the season. Any more mistakes would mean we are going down.
“So, we are going to push harder. If you look at our points, we are not far off from the rest of the teams. We are just 10 points away from the teams in the top half. That is why I am confident we may get out of this position,”
Week 18 Fixtures
Saturday: Bikita Minerals v Herentals (Sakubva), Bulawayo Chiefs v GreenFuel (Luveve), Ngezi Platinum v Arenel Movers (Baobab), Simba Bhora v Manica Diamonds (Wadzanai), Yadah v Hwange (Heart Stadium)
Sunday: Chegutu Pirates v FC Platinum (Baobab), Chicken Inn v CAPS United (Luveve), Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro), TelOne v ZPC Kariba (Bata).
Online Reporter