Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TELONE coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa always finds a way to maintain composure even when the chips are down.
The opening part of the 2026 Castle Lager Premiership football season has been unkind on his team after going on a winless run in the first eight games of the campaign.
This is in sharp contrast to last season, when he led TelOne on their best run in the top-flight season; a fifth-place finish in the final log standings.
But Maruwa is confident of turning the corner, after winning the trust of the club’s management. “They always support me,” he said.
“Last December, we finished fifth in the marathon and two months down the line we can’t say we are already a bad side. It’s a process; we just need to continue improving the team.” TelOne are currently sitting third from the bottom, with three draws and five defeats. They have scored six goals and conceded 12.In contrast with the previous season, TelOne at this point had won three games and drawn three, while losing only twice.
They had scored 12 goals and conceded nine.
This earned them 12 points from the opening eight games, compared to the three that they have amassed this term. Last week, TelOne gave log leaders CAPS United a strong fight in their last outing but still came short after succumbing to a 0-1 defeat. Maruwa has identified poor concentration in defence as the major setback.
“I think maybe we need to improve the level of concentration because we are conceding at the crucial moments. So, we need to make sure we work on the mental strength of our players,” said Maruwa.He has had conversations with his players around the performance and he expects improvements when they host Herentals at Ascot tomorrow. “I tell them to keep on pushing, we will get it right,” Maruwa said.
“In terms of play and dominance and even the way we are getting into prime target areas and the way we are creating chances, I cannot complain. Maybe we need just to improve the way we are defending at crucial moments like the first 15 and last 15 minutes. If you can check that’s when we conceded in our last three games.”
TelOne have also been struggling to fill the void left by the departure of Soccer Star of the Year and Golden Boot winner Washington Navaya. The forward, who is now in the books of newboys Hardrock, was the star of the show with 17 goals last season.
“Our play last season was centred on him. He was combining well with Tawanda Macheke. Losing him was a huge minus because we lost a Soccer Star of the Year and a top goal scorer; it is difficult.
“We need to find someone to fill in the shoes, of which it’s a process, but we will get it right. “We will try to work with what we have and then we will see what will happen. Hopefully we will find the right guy to carry our team,” said Maruwa.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: FC Hunters v Triangle (Heart Stadium), MWOS v Scottland (Ngoni), Simba Bhora v FC Platinum (Wadzanayi), Ngezi Platinum Stars v AGAMA (Baobab), TelOne v Herentals (Ascot), Bulawayo Chiefs v Chicken Inn (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Hardrock (GreenFuel Arena)
Sunday: Highlanders v CAPS Utd (Barbourfields), Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro)
