By Takudzwa Mahove
Telone FC will be aiming to build on last season’s impressive performance when they open their 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign against Dynamos at Ascot Stadium on Saturday.
The “WiFi Boys” have undergone a remarkable transformation since May 2024 when the club parted ways with Tendai Chikuni and appointed Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa as head coach at a time when Telone were struggling and staring relegation in the face.
On his arrival, Maruwa quickly accepted the challenge of rescuing the side.
“When the president called me it did not take long for me to agree. I accepted the offer because I knew what I wanted and to face new challenges,” he said at the time.
Maruwa’s first assignment was a daunting one — guiding Telone through a difficult run that included an away trip to Ngezi Platinum Stars before hosting Chicken Inn just seven days later. However, what followed was a dramatic turnaround as the team rediscovered its form and eventually secured survival with games to spare.
The revival continued in the 2025 season, with a rejuvenated Telone side emerging as one of the league’s most competitive teams. The WiFi Boys pushed some of the country’s biggest clubs all the way and eventually finished fifth, their best showing in recent years.
With the 2026 season now underway, Telone captain Frank Makarati says the team is determined to build on that momentum and push even higher up the table.
Speaking to Great Dyke News ahead of the season opener, Maruwa expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations but acknowledged the uncertainty that always accompanies the first game of a new campaign.
“So far so good in terms of preparations. I’m very happy with the way we conducted our pre-season. But the first game is always unknown — you never know how things will unfold,” Maruwa said.
“Dynamos is Dynamos. They are a big club and they always rise to the occasion. It’s a new game altogether and we need to make sure we are mentally prepared.”
Telone will however have to begin the new campaign without last season’s talisman Washington Navaya, who finished as both the club’s and the league’s top scorer and went on to win the Soccer Star of the Year award. Navaya has since moved to newly promoted Hardrock.
Despite the departure, Maruwa believes teamwork will be key in creating scoring opportunities, with other players expected to step up.
Supporters will be hoping that new signing Farai Mutatu and last season’s standout performer Tawanda Macheka can lead the team’s attacking charge.
Telone face a tough start to the season, with fixtures against 20-time Zimbabwean champions Dynamos, last season’s runners-up MWOS, 2024 champions Simba Bhora, four-time champions FC Platinum and defending champions Scottland in their opening five matches.
However, after last season’s resurgence, the WiFi Boys will be hoping their upward trajectory continues as they look to establish themselves among the league’s top contenders.
