Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze, Zimpapers Sports Hub
TELONE want their home fans smiling again when they meet MWOS at Ascot tomorrow. The Gweru side, coached by Herbert Maruwa, have struggled on their own patch, losing two of their last three league games there.
They fell 1-0 to a misfiring Manica Diamonds and then 2-1 to an inconsistent Chicken Inn, results that dented their title push and dampened the mood among their supporters.
A 4-0 away win over Bikita Minerals at Gibbo last week brought some relief. But Maruwa knows that only a strong performance at Ascot will restore faith. “We haven’t had it easy at home in the past weeks and this is something that we are working on,” he said. “Remember we have fans, crucial stakeholders who have expectations, so everything ceases to be just about us. We need to give them the points.”
TelOne remember well the dramatic first meeting with MWOS back in the first round at Ngoni. They led 2-0 through Eriya Mafirenyika and Milton Chimedza by the 48th minute and soon earned a disputed penalty, wasted by Navaya.
Then the match turned chaotic. Allan Chapinduka and Kudakwashe Nyakudanga were sent off in quick succession, prompting a 10-minute stoppage as TelOne protested. MWOS, playing with an extra man, struck back with goals from Innocent Zambezi and Billy Veremu to seal a 2-2 draw.
For Maruwa, that day was two points lost, not one gained. “We feel that we dropped two points on the day; it was not a point gained. A lot happened that day and we left Norton heartbroken,” he said. “Building up to this game, we reminded each other of what happened and how best we should avoid a repetition of history. We are aware that having faltered for a number of games MWOS are also seeking to reclaim their lost mojo so we have to up our game to collect maximum points.”
TelOne sit fifth on the log with 43 points, three behind fourth placed MWOS. Both teams have surprised the league this year, MWOS defying expectations as newcomers and TelOne emerging as a dark horse. Maruwa says his side now carry the weight of that reputation.
“Now we have so much to fight for, we have to maintain our position in the top four or five on the log though my wish was to push for the big one,” he said. “As we count down to season end, the games are coming thick and fast so it is important for us to remain calm and push to the end.
It will not be easy but we have a strong team made up of guys who have been on this road before and understand what it means to be in this situation.”
TelOne’s target is clear, turn Ascot into a fortress again and prove their dark horse status is no fluke.
