Online Reporter
Tongai MashongaZimpapers Sports Hub
HARDROCK coach Kelvin Kaindu says inactivity last weekend could come to haunt his team ahead of the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final clash with Scottland at Rufaro tomorrow.
They engage in a hectic week of action against top sides with their second game promising to be an explosive away trip to Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The Cup tie against Scottland was pushed to midweek after the league leaders were involved in CAF Champions League action, knocking out Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini in the preliminary round over the weekend. Kaindu admitted the break came at the wrong time, with Hardrock having built good momentum in the last eight games.
“The weekend we used it just mainly to see that some of our guys that have got some knocks probably will recover,” Kaindu said.
“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.”
Hardrock were without five players Tinashe Mashaireni, Misheck Ngwenya, Munashe Bamara, Masimba Mambare and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa in their last match against TelOne.
“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 said.
Kaindu said there was no advantage of resting going into the Scottland match, describing it as “50-50” and warned of a tough schedule ahead.
“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.”
