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Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TELONE coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa can finally get to realise his full potential after receiving virtually every physical and emotional piece that he has bargained for at the Gweru club.
For a long time in his career, Maruwa has fared well with limited resources, and he has always been categorised as average.
But the former Black Rhinos gaffer has finally landed where he has every support that he needs to flourish with Telone president Oscar Nduwure yesterday saying the team has every part of his back covered.
Telone have been silently busy in the transfer market, landing quite big signings, including former Dynamos captain Frank Makarati and silky winger Leeroy Murape.
The environment is expected to aid Maruwa to thrive after coming in late to rescue the club from relegation last season.
And Nduwure said his board is fully behind Maruwa, who they expect to lead the club to a decent finish in the upcoming season.
“All I can say is that we learned from our mistakes from last season. It was understandable, though, because that was our first time in the league upon returning.
“In fact, we were battling both physically and psychologically, given that we failed to stay beyond our debut season in the Premiership when we got promoted first back in 2019. So it was very difficult. We thank everyone for the support because at the end of the day, we managed to do it,” said Nduwure.
“We have now settled down and decided to give the coach all the support that he needs. Everyone is happy and looking forward to the 2025 season with renewed hope and faith.
“We are looking at being more competitive this year than we were last season. That is all we are looking forward to.”We want to compete both in the league and in the Chibuku Super Cup. I think we have managed to land some really good players by Zimbabwean standards. It is our hope that we will be able to get the best out of them.
“Coach Maruwa is a very good coach, and he has all our support. We are still signing players, and we will share the final list once we are done. But as for now, we are very happy with the progress that we have made this transfer season.”
Maruwa had to leave his post at Harare City in the Northern Region Soccer League, where he was leading the standings and firm favourite to clinch the title to be at Telone.
The latter were literally at Ground Zero in the league and needed magical hands to survive.
“The fitness levels of the team weren’t up there. The mentality was also not right, and the confidence was low,” said Maruwa.
“I had to manage the players just to remove that small-team mentality, and it worked.
“Going into the 2025 season, I am hoping for the best for myself and the team.”
Maruwa made his name after transforming Black Rhinos inside three years before he was recruited by Dynamos, where the toxic environment he was working under weighed the work he was doing down.
Online Reporter