End of the road for Jompano

Onward Gangata in GWERU

FOLLOWING yet another tumultuous week at TelOne, Herbert “Jompano’’ Maruwa has been fired by the Gweru-based Premier Soccer League outfit.

Maruwa becomes the latest coaching casualty in the league after the sackings of Thomas Ruzive by Triangle, Mark Mathe and Paul Chimalizeni (Agama) and Tafadzwa Mashiri at Manica Diamonds.

The former Dynamos and Black Rhinos coach’s tenure at TelOne was always hanging by the thread after the WI-FI Boys got off to a poor start to the 2026 championship marathon.

TelOne, who registered their best season finish when ending fifth at the end of the 2025 term have been a far cry from that impressive side that provided the Castle Soccer Star of the Year in Washington Navaya. Instead, TelOne are win-less in nine starts this year.

And Maruwa has duly paid the price for that indifferent start.

It emerged that marathon meetings by the club’s executive committee since Monday culminated in a decision being reached to fire the coach.

Maruwa leaves TelOne languishing in the relegation zone, in 16th place on the log standings with a measly three points from as many draws.

TelOne have particularly been terrible at home since the second half of last season.

And the latest 1-0 home defeat by Herentals at Ascot convinced Oscah Nduwure’s executive to act to stem the rot.

Club president Nduwure confirmed last night that they had parted company with Maruwa.

“He still has a running contract with the club which was due for renewal subject to performance-related appraisals, but we had a meeting with him and agreed not to renew the contract when it expires next month,’’ said Nduwure.

Nduwure added that assistant coach and former Masvingo United defender Charles Mutero will be in charge of the team in the interim as the club begins the search for a replacement.

Should Maruwa’s replacement not arrive immediately, it means Mutero will preside over TelOne’s away trip to Triangle at Gibbo.

Nduwure added that their search for a substantive coach will be informed by “a scientific approach to recruitment’’.

“In the meantime, Charles Mutero will be in charge of the team as we look for a replacement.

“We are taking out time because we want a coach who can navigate the terrain we are in, so we will be going scientific, using AI tools to fill in the vacant post,’’ he said.

Maruwa’s departure after just two seasons at TelOne has already torched speculation about his successor, with a number of names being thrown into the hat. These include the experienced quintet of Luke Masomere, Saul Chaminukua, Rodwell Dhlakama, Wilson Mutekede and Mkhuphali Masuku.

The former Agama pair of Chimalizeni and Mathe is among those who have also been inked with the TelOne job.