HARARE, June 5，2026 (NewsDay Live) - In an era where the chasm between school football and the rigorous demands of the professional game can often seem insurmountable, TelOne have taken a huge step to bridge the divide.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side confirmed that it had partnered with Mambo High School in Gweru to set up a soccer academy that will serve as a direct pipeline to the club's first team.
The initiative, launched as part of the club’s corporate social responsibility programme, coincides with the Gweru-based side's 10th anniversary celebrations.
To inaugurate the partnership, senior club officials descended upon the school to hand over a comprehensive suite of playing kits and training equipment, laying the physical foundations for what both parties hope will be a fruitful, long-term symbiotic relationship.
"As part of our 10th-anniversary celebrations, TelOne FC has officially launched the Mambo High School Football Academy," the club said in a statement.
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"To kick things off, playing kits and training equipment were handed over to the school, which will serve as a direct feeder to the TelOne first squad. This incredible initiative allows talented student-athletes to pursue a formal education while receiving elite training to bridge the gap to the professional game."
By embedding an academy within an existing educational framework, TelOne are offering a dual-career pathway, ensuring that young athletes do not have to compromise their academic prospects in pursuit of a sporting career.
TelOne president Oscar Nduwure presided over the occasion, and was accompanied by the club’s technical team members, including head coach Saul Chaminuka.
Chaminuka’s presence, in particular, will offer immense encouragement to the students at Mambo High.
The veteran tactician is renowned for his ability to nurture raw talent.
For TelOne, the academy is as much about community integration as it is about scouting the next generation of Premier League stars.
Over the past ten years, the club has established itself as a resilient fixture of the Midlands football landscape.
By investing in Mambo High School, they are effectively anchoring their future to the very community that supports them.
While the immediate benefits will be felt on the school's training pitches, the true measure of this partnership will be judged in the years to come, as the first graduates of the Mambo High School Football Academy trade their school colours for TelOne's white and blue colours.