JOMPANO, DHLAKAMA IN RACE FOR TELONE JOB

Langton Nyakwenda

HARARE City coach, Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa, was by late yesterday the front runner for the TelOne job, which has also attracted the interest of veteran gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama.

The Wi-Fi Boys are searching for a new coach after firing Tendai Chikuni on Tuesday.

Chikuni, who has coached FC Platinum and Chapungu, was shown the exit door following a string of poor results.

During his Premiership stint with TelOne, the Gweru side posted just two wins in 11 matches.

TelOne’s win rate under Chikuni stood at 18 percent.

The Wi-Fi Boys are winless in their last six games and now sit on 14th position with 11 points from as many games.

It emerged late yesterday that Maruwa, who is doing well with ZIFA Northern Region Soccer League side Harare City, is now a favourite for the TelOne job.

Maruwa’s Harare City are unbeaten with six wins and a draw.

They top the log with 19 points, three ahead of Lloyd Mutasa’s MWOS, whom they face at Ngoni, in a top-of-the-table clash in Norton on Saturday.

It emerged that TelOne held an executive committee meeting yesterday afternoon but the officials were not prepared to share more details about their next move.

However, sources revealed that they had already made contact with both Maruwa and Dhlakama.

TelOne first approached Dhlakama last week after they failed to land their initial target, Saul Chamiuka, who was snapped up by GreenFuel.

They then initiated talks earlier this week with Maruwa.

Dhlakama left GreenFuel at the start of this month and has since been replaced by Chaminuka. Chaminuka was the number one target and all seemed set for his unveiling in Gweru.

“He was offered a very lucrative package and plans were already in place for him to relocate from Bikita to the Midlands, but he chose GreenFuel,” said a source.

“So after Chaminuka ended up at GreenFuel, attention shifted heavily towards Dhlakama but today (yesterday) Maruwa’s name also popped up.

“Actually, there has been contact between the club and Maruwa. A formal appointment has been set and should he impress then he will soon be unveiled.”

TelOne play defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars away at Baobab on Saturday before they host Chicken Inn at Bata next Wednesday.

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