TELONE FC ...............................0(1)
HIGHLANDERS FC...................0
For the first time this season, TelOne FC faithful left Ascot Stadium smiling after recording their first home win, beating Highlanders 1-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played yesterday.
Defender Chelsea Nyakope scored a thunderbolt in the 88th minute, a goal that was enough to earn them their first home win of the 2026 season.
Ultimately, Nyakope walked away with the Luckybets Man of the Match award as TelOne FC moved to 11 points but remained rooted in the relegation zone.
Coach Saul Chaminuka was on cloud nine after snatching the win at home, a huge relief to his charges. This is only TelOne's second win of the season.
"Sixteen games — that’s a long time to wait — and today the boys finally gave our fans something to smile about at home,” Chaminuka said.
“The weight is off our shoulders now because we’ve been hurting our supporters for too long at this stadium, but they never gave up on us through 16 matches without a win here.
"You could feel the tension at Ascot, but the faithful stayed with us and that pushed us over the line.
“We’ve dominated games before and got nothing, but today we matched that control with intention in the final third and we were brave enough to take our chances and defend like our lives depended on it.”
Chaminuka is currently serving a four-match ultimatum. They face Bulawayo Chiefs, Dynamos, and MWOS FC in their next three matches. Highlanders coach Benjani Mwaruwari was disappointed as his men failed to convert the chances that came in the first half.
"It’s always difficult,” Mwaruwari said. “We dominated most of the game and we couldn’t convert a lot of chances. We were one up, we controlled the game, but going forward in that final third, we didn’t go in there with that desire, with that high tempo.
"Sometimes if you play good football and then you don’t show intention to hurt teams, that’s what happens. Second half, we improved a bit. We looked like a threat and we had more chances than them," Mwaruwari added.
"It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t convert them. Don’t call that a chance — that was a brilliant goal. Almost a 40-metre drive. We can’t fault the keeper. They caught him off-guard. Well done to them, they took it.
"I can say to my boys: they work so hard, but sometimes it’s a lesson. When you get those chances you need to punish teams, otherwise you will find yourself in games like this and you will always be disappointed.
TEAMS
TELONE:Criss Mverechena, Frank Makarati, Allan Chapinduka, Bruno Mtigo, Marvellous Chigumira(Tafadzwa Jaravani 70'), Tawanda Macheke, Innocent Mucheneka, Nqobizitha Masuku, Nkosiyabo Masilela(Leeroy Murape 71'), Eriya Mafirenyika
HIGHLANDERS: Aron Ngwenya, Mongameli Tshuma(Isaac Ngoma 87'), Royn Nyamono, Brighton Ncube, Andrew Mbeba, Rainsome Pavari, Tawanda M Shenje, Darlington Mukuli, Luckmore Mutimbi, Benjamin Adeogun(Reason Sibanda 78'), Lawrance Mhlanga