MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU—TelOne FC face one of their toughest early season assignments when they host defending champions Scottland FC at Ascot Stadium on Thursday in a Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League encounter.
The Gweru-based side have endured a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, with their opening three matches yielding little reward as coach Herbert Maruwa searches for early-season consistency.
TelOne first suffered a narrow defeat away to MWOS FC before returning to Ascot Stadium where they fell 1–0 to Simba Bhora FC.
Their fortunes improved slightly in the Midlands derby, battling to a 2–2 draw against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium.
The slow start contrasts sharply with the club’s growing ambitions after finishing fifth in the 2025 campaign, their highest position since regaining top flight status and publicly declaring a push for a top-four finish this season.
Thursday’s encounter also carries extra emotional weight for the hosts.
The last meeting between the two sides produced a moment still fondly remembered by the Ascot faithful when TelOne midfielder Tawanda Macheke unleashed a thunderous long range strike that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
With Scottland entering the fixture as reigning champions, the WiFi Boys will be hoping lightning strikes twice.
The Easter week fixture also ushers in a demanding April schedule for the Gweru outfit.
After Thursday’s clash, TelOne travel to face ZPC Kariba FC before returning to Ascot to host Chicken Inn FC, a sequence of matches that could shape the club’s early-season trajectory.
For Maruwa’s men, the message is clear; rediscover the spark that powered them into the league’s top five last season or risk falling behind the pace in what is already shaping up to be another fiercely contested campaign.
If Ascot Stadium roars the way it usually does on big-match days, the WiFi Boys may yet find the connection they need to reboot their season.
