Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
TelOne have intensified preparations for the new Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, with coach Herbert Maruwa insisting his side is ready to build on last year’s breakthrough campaign despite the loss of talisman, Washington Navaya — whose goals powered their rise and whose departure now leaves a sizeable gap the club must work to fill.
The Wi-Fi Boys have set up camp in Bulawayo, where training sessions have been intense and purposeful.
The technical team are closely assessing combinations while giving new signings time to settle into the rhythm of a squad now carrying greater expectation following last season’s fifth place finish — their best showing since promotion to the top flight. Maruwa says the mood in camp has been positive, with senior players setting the tone and younger members pushing hard for places as he patiently moulds a group he believes can compete near the top end of the table, provided they maintain discipline and avoid the injuries that so often derail promising campaigns.
“We started our camp on Monday and so far so good. I have brought in 35 players, both experienced and young, and we are working on getting the right balance,” he said.
Replacing Navaya remains the biggest challenge for the Gweru side after the striker finished last season as their leading scorer and Soccer Star of the Year — a contribution that turned tight matches in TelOne’s favour and gave the team belief in crucial moments.
Maruwa acknowledges the forward’s departure is significant but says the squad understand that progress demands new leaders stepping forward if the team is to keep moving upward rather than slipping back into the chasing pack.
“He was one of our top players but football moves on. His move creates opportunity and competition for others to fill that gap,” he said.
The club have refreshed the squad with several arrivals, with Marvelous Chigumira, Innocent Mucheneka, Takudzwa Chikosi and Charles Nyakope expected to inject depth and renewed energy as TelOne seek to maintain the steady growth that has made them one of the league’s more organised outfits over the past two seasons.
Training in Bulawayo forms part of a broader plan by the technical team, who want the players familiar with conditions in the southern region, where they face several challenging away fixtures.
The camp has already served as a valuable test of focus as players adapt to different surfaces and match tempo.
“There are three teams here and we will come to Bulawayo a few times during the season, so this helps us familiarise with the environment while fine tuning the team,” said Maruwa.
TelOne are set to face Bulawayo Chiefs in a training match as preparations intensify ahead of next month’s kick-off, with the technical bench keen to see how the group responds under match conditions after weeks of physical conditioning.
With FC Platinum and ambitious newcomers Hardrock also expected to mount strong challenges this season, the Midlands rivalry is shaping into one of the campaign’s more intriguing subplots. TelOne know that matching last year’s progress will require consistency over the long stretch of the season rather than brief bursts of form.
After climbing from tenth place in 2024 to fifth last season, the message from the Wi Fi Boys is clear: they believe they have laid a foundation strong enough to support another push up the table – provided they maintain the hunger that carried them through their most encouraging season yet.
