TOWERING goal guard Criss Mverechena has enjoyed a stellar half-season between the sticks, and the TelOne FC stalwart is eager to build on his fine form come 2025.
Mverechena joined the ranks of TelOne midway through the season as part of coach Herbert Maruwa’s new signings, which included veteran midfielder Xolisani Moyo, former Simba Bhora defender Tafadzwa Jaravani, and Zimbabwe Under-20 captain Allan Chapinduka. It didn’t take long for the former Caps United, Greenfuel and Highlanders shot-stopper to make his mark.
His heroics were crucial in TelOne’s narrow victory over rivals Highlanders at Barbourfields, denying the Bulawayo giants on multiple occasions. And against Dynamos at Bata Stadium, the ‘Peter Parker’ of Zimbabwean football, as he’s affectionately known, stood tall against Keith Madera’s strike, before confidently clearing a late effort from Donald Mudadi.
Though the curtain has fallen on the 2024 campaign, Mverechena sees the offseason as a prime opportunity to refine his game and return even stronger in the new year. “The stats speak for themselves, but I’m still hungry for more. I’ll never be satisfied,” he said.
“Luckily, we have a coach who appreciates good work and motivates us when we hit obstacles. The credit goes to the entire team – we did it together.”
One of Mverechena’s standout performances came in the cup clash against Arenel Movers at Mandava Stadium, where he saved two crucial penalties to help his side progress. Goalkeeper’s coach Ndega Matsika praised the 23-year-old’s discipline and work ethic on the training ground as the driving force behind his impressive exploits.
TelOne head coach Herbert Maruwa was equally delighted with Mverechena’s displays, hinting that the young custodian could be in line for national team recognition. “Criss has done incredibly well, keeping 10 clean sheets and conceding just 7 goals in 16 games – that’s a remarkable record,” Maruwa said after the final league match against FC Platinum.
Mverechena averaged 0.4375 goals conceded per game, a statistic that underscores his consistently impressive performances. With his hunger for more success, the TelOne goalkeeper is poised to take his game to even greater heights in the 2025 season.
