Maruwa confident of TelOne’s PSL survival
HERBERT ‘Jompano’ Maruwa is optimistic that his magic wand will be enough to save relegation haunted Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side TelOne from the chop at the end of season.
The former Dynamos coach joined the Wifi Boys towards the end of the first half of the season, replacing Tendai Chikuni who was shown the exit following a spate of poor results.
His appointment by TelOne saw him return to the top flight league nearly a year after he was fired by Dynamos. And since joining the team, Jompano declared his mission is clear, to help his new club who TelOne have found themselves on and off flirting with the red zone.
“I am very confident we will survive the relegation. We just need to work hard on our remaining games and take a game at a time without placing ourselves under a lot of pressure,” he boldly said.
Currently TelOne sit on position 15 on the log table with 26 points in 25 games.
With them in the relegation zone are Hwange, Chegutu Pirates and Arenel Movers who occupy positions 16, 17 and 18 with 23, 19 and 18 points respectively.
Jompano has been in charge of 13 games at TelOne with the team registering two victories, an equal number of defeats while the other nine encounters ended in draws.
“I am happy that we have managed to steady the ship in those 13 games so now the mission is to push hard on these draws to make them wins and we are home and dry,” he said.
“We are not far; we just need to polish upfront because we are creating chances so that the conversion rate improves.”
During the mid-season transfer window, Maruwa brought in experienced players, goalKeeper Chris Mverechena, Tafadzwa Jaravani and
Xolisani Moyo to steady his ship.
Jaravani, a proven defensive midfielder together with Moyo, who is comfortable in the midfield as he is in defence, have provided the much needed shield at the back.
Youngster Allan Chapinduka (19), a rising Left and Centre back who also turns out for the Young Warriors also joined the team with Attacking Midfielder Nkosi Masilela.
With more defensive minded players, Maruwa is optimistic that he has what it takes to survive.
“I am not saying the other departments were okay but the defence conceded a lot of goals so we started fixing the back,” he said.
“We had to bring in more defenders and then try to work with strikers who were already there.
“The team needed players whom we know are capable enough to handle the demands of the elite league and the pressure of fighting to survive.
“If we survive, then next season we start rebuilding.”
Maruwa wants his team to turn the tide by working on their mental strength to move away from relegation.
“Being a coach, my responsibility is to train the players in a way that we fight relegation and also ensure that mentally they are in their best form.
“I am confident that survival is possible because we are not in a very bad position, the boys have been working hard, trying to grind the best results.”
Faced with a tricky date against log leaders Simba at Ascot tomorrow, the gaffer is unfazed.
He urged his boys to be in their best form if they are to stop the ambitious Shamva side.
“They are currently playing well, so we need to be at our best to get a win.
“I am also happy that we are at Ascot but playing at home does not mean we relax after all we are playing well away from home so we need to work even extra hard to make it work.”