TelOne head coach Joel Luphahla faces the fight of his football life this weekend as the Gweru side stare relegation from the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League in the face, needing a win at Wadzanayi on Saturday to keep their survival hopes alive.
According to Bulawayo24 News, the Wi-Fi Boys slipped closer to the drop last weekend after a painful 3-2 home defeat to newcomers FC Hunters, a result that left the club stranded on 22 points from 30 matches, nine points adrift of safety with only three games remaining.
Luphahla returns but the tide has not turned
Luphahla is no stranger to TelOne. He guided the club to their maiden promotion to the top flight in 2019, an achievement that earned him a permanent place in the affection of the Gweru faithful. He returned to the hot seat in August, taking over a side sitting 16th on the table after a difficult spell under coaches Herbert Maruwa and Saul Chaminuka.
The comeback has been brutal. Luphahla has overseen five league matches since his return and has recorded two draws and three defeats. The man who once lifted the club into the Premiership now finds himself trying to rescue it from falling out.
“We are also disappointed, but we are going to continue pushing,” Luphahla said.
“We are going away to AGAMA. It’s going to be difficult as well, but we want to salvage the pride. We want to do it properly for the players as well.”
He admitted that the team’s confidence had taken a battering from a run of disappointing results, even though the players have shown promising football in patches. That honesty will resonate with supporters who have watched their side play well in stretches only to walk away empty-handed.
Experienced names, empty returns
The squad is not short of pedigree. Frank Makarati, Donald Teguru, Bruno Mtigo, Silas Songani, Chelsea Nyakope and Marvellous Chigumira have all been around the local game long enough to know what a relegation dogfight demands. Yet TelOne have repeatedly failed to turn performances into victories, and the table does not lie.
Luphahla’s task has also been complicated by the fact that he lacks the required CAF A Licence to serve as head coach, a bureaucratic hurdle that hangs over a man who has already proven his worth by guiding the club into the top division. Supporters will ask a fair question: why should paperwork stand in the way of a coach who has delivered for this club before?
AGAMA clash could decide everything
Saturday’s opponents, AGAMA, are themselves deep in the mire on 28 points, which makes the Wadzanayi encounter a genuine six-pointer. A TelOne victory keeps the arithmetic alive; anything less and the Wi-Fi Boys can start planning for life in the lower division.
AGAMA sit three points behind Bulawayo Chiefs, who occupy 31 points, while ZPC Kariba are on 32. Every result this weekend will send shockwaves through the bottom half of the table.
Manica Diamonds already down, Triangle on the brink
Manica Diamonds are already confirmed relegated and will host Bulawayo Chiefs at Sakubva on Sunday. Triangle United, on 23 points, are staring down the same abyss and could join them if they fail to beat Simba Bhora at Gibbo. Coach Genesis Mangombe has been unable to pull the Lowveld side clear of danger.
Bulawayo Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino remains defiant about his side’s chances of preserving their Premiership status, with the club holding a three-point cushion over AGAMA.
“What is important for us is to maintain that position or go better than that,” Nyikadzino said.
He added that the club would keep working to improve performances and consolidate their place in the league.
Fixtures for the run-in
- Saturday: Herentals v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Dynamos (Baobab), Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve)
- Sunday: Triangle v Simba Bhora (Gibbo), AGAMA v TelOne (Wadzanayi), Manica Diamonds v Bulawayo Chiefs (Sakubva), Hardrock v MWOS (Chahwanda), FC Hunters v Highlanders (Rufaro)
- Thursday, October 29: CAPS United v Scottland (Rufaro)
FAQ
How many points does TelOne need to survive?
TelOne sit on 22 points, nine adrift of safety with three matches left, meaning they need a win at AGAMA on Saturday and favours elsewhere to keep their survival hopes alive.
Who is TelOne’s coach?
Joel Luphahla, who guided TelOne to their maiden promotion to the Premier Soccer League in 2019, returned as coach in August but has won none of his five league matches in charge.
Which teams are already relegated from the 2026 Premier Soccer League?
Manica Diamonds are mathematically confirmed relegated. TelOne and Triangle United are the clubs most at risk of joining them, with Bulawayo Chiefs, AGAMA and ZPC Kariba still fighting to stay clear.