Chronicle Editor
Onward Gangata
TELONE goalkeeper, Criss Mverechena has praised his coach, Hebert “Jompano” Maruwa for reviving his career in a fairytale season in which he has won his team’s Player of the Year gong.
Mverechena’s career appeared to be at crossroads after his release from Greenfuel at the end of the 2023 season when his contract with the Chisumbanje side expired. He spent the first-half of the just-ended Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season clubless and job hunting.
But when Maruwa was appointed as the head coach at TelOne in mid-season, he made Mverechena one of his first signings, his task to help the team survive relegation. The gangly goalminder had a stellar season between the sticks for the Gweru side, inspiring the WiFi boys to end the season in 10th place on the log standings.
He managed to keep 11 clean sheets in 16 outings for TelOne and also scored one goal. On Friday, Mverechena was rewarded as TelOne’s Player of the Season at a ceremony held in the Midlands capital.
The 28-year-old paid tribute to Maruwa for the kiss of life on his career.
“It is not easy to do what coach Jompano did,” Mverechena told the Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“It was a big gamble that he did, I still don’t know why he chose me to come and work with him at TelOne. I wasn’t training for six months but he took the gamble to bring me and help the team fight relegation. I have so much respect for my coach, not many coaches can make such decisions.” Mverechena added that his stint at TelOne has made him feel like he is starting his career all over again.
“I feel like a teenager, it feels like I am starting my career again. The move to TelOne was a breath of fresh air in my life, I feel new again,” said the player who made his topflight debut in 2014.
TelOne gaffer, Maruwa spoke highly of Mverechena stressing that he was never in doubt about the goalkeeper’s ability in goal. “I never bothered myself what people were saying when we signed him, I knew what I was getting and I knew how valuable his experience would be for the team especially in our fight against relegation,” he said. Other winners at the awards night include Washington Navaya the Top Goal Scorer and Allan Chapinduka who won the Most Improved Player award.
Fradreck Muza walked away as the Most Loyal Player while defender Eria Mafirenyika won the Players Player of the Season award.
Malvern Kwinjo was deemed the Most Disciplined Player.
Online Reporter