Makepekepe shamed the critics with a spirited performance in the high-profile Sino-Cup Challenge encounter against Dynamos on Sunday, matching their bitter rivals pound for pound before the “Green Machine” prevailed 6-5 on penalties. The match had ended in a one-all deadlock in regulation time.
While drawing the positives from the team’s overall performance in a largely entertaining encounter, Msiska pointed out that his players’ fitness levels remained worryingly low.
“We were focused more on recruitment for much of the pre-season and our players are not as fit as one would expect. We have to work very hard in the remaining two weeks before the new season begins.
“But it was a promising performance from the team. We did not use many of our new players and that just goes to show we still have some depth. The new coach (Mark Harrison) is also very enthusiastic and determined to get the best out of the boys,” Msiska said.
Caps were largely expected to struggle going into the match against Dynamos, after many of their standout performers from last season deserted camp for greener pastures.
Their former captain, Tapuwa Kumbuyani, is now at How Mine, goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, forwards Honey Chimutimunzeve and Nicholas Alfandika and midfielder Tendai Samanja followed coach Taurai Mangwiro to Harare City. Dynamos on the other hand helped themselves to strikers Domini Chungwa and Kelvin Bulaji.
But Makepekepe showed some remarkable strength in depth with the majority of the players who started against Dynamos on Sunday having been at the club last season.
Msiska himself said he expected an exacting campaign, with quite a number of clubs having strengthened considerably and looking all the more formidable than they were last season.
Teams like Harare City, FC Platinum, Dynamos and Highlanders all have the look of title contenders about them, with Caps United apparently determined to join the party, despite their recent travails.
Others, like Triangle, Chicken Inn, Hwange, and Buffaloes, will certainly be no pushovers.
Post published in: Football