Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga [email protected]
HARDROCK FC coach Kelvin Kaindu believes his side’s inactivity last weekend could prove costly ahead of tomorrow’s Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final showdown against Scottland at Rufaro Stadium.
The miners face a demanding week against two of the country’s top sides, with Sunday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trip to Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium coming just days after their cup assignment.
The quarter-final tie was rescheduled to midweek after league leaders Scottland were involved in CAF Champions League preliminary-round action, where they eliminated Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs over the weekend.
Kaindu admitted the unexpected break came at an inconvenient time, particularly after Hardrock had built momentum during an impressive eight-match run.
“The weekend we used it just mainly to see that some of our guys that have got some knocks probably will recover. In terms of our fitness and also having a free weekend for us I think it’s not good looking at the consistency that we had showed in the last eight games that we have played. So for us to be on the break was slightly to our disadvantage,” Kaindu said.
The Zambian tactician said the period was largely devoted to helping injured players recover rather than focusing on tactical preparations.
“The only thing we did is, we used it to have some of our players just to recover from the knocks they sustained during the last few games that we have played.”
Hardrock were without Tinashe Mashaireni, Misheck Ngwenya, Munashe Bamara, Masimba Mambare and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa in their Matchday 28 encounter against TelOne FC, with all five sidelined by injury.
Despite the injury concerns, Kaindu said his team continued working on key areas ahead of a crucial week.
“We are still focusing on our tactical play and the finishing ability and also the mentality just for us to have a team that is strong and will be able to compete both in the league and in the cup games that we are playing,” he added.
Kaindu dismissed suggestions that the break offered his team any significant advantage heading into the Scottland clash, describing the contest as evenly balanced while warning of the challenges posed by the fixture schedule.
“Playing in the mid-week and playing in a cup game is totally different from a league game. The unfortunate part for us, is that both games that are coming, we have to travel. There will be no rest.
There will be no recovery for us. Both of our next two games we are playing away. If we can be consistent in the games that we’ll be playing, I think it will be better for us.”
The Hardrock coach also paid tribute to the club’s supporters for their unwavering backing.
“We always appreciate the support that the fans have given. They are behind the team and most of the time they are also travelling just to come and give support to the team.”
