AFTER losing key midfield players Nqobizitha Masuku and Adrian Silla, Highlanders assistant coach Joel Lupahla says they are praying for continuity as the team look to build from their strong finish last season.
Three weeks after regrouping, the former Warriors attacker is first to admit that his team is yet to reach the level envisioned by the technical team.
Lupahla was very precise in his comments following a rather lacklustre display in a friendly match against newbies Sheasham at Ascot Stadium in Gweru yesterday.
The match ended nil-all and Lupahla took positives from his team’s display albeit that they are yet to fill in the void left by Masuku and Silla.
“We had a good ending last season, but we lost some key players we had last season. Of course, losing key players affects us,” he said.
“At this point, we can only hope for continuity and hoping to fuse some of the youngsters whom we promoted from Bosso90.
“From here, we take a lot of positives hoping we take shape by the time we play the next match.
“There is still time for us to take shape. It’s a season we have to achieve. We want to be better by continuing from where we left.”
The Bulawayo giants retained the better part of the players they had last season.
They signed Elshamar Farasi, who joined from Bulawayo City.
Farasi followed the footsteps of Melikhaya Ncube, who also joined from Bulawayo City.
Highlanders also retained attacking midfielder Prince Ndlovu, who reportedly had his visa to Croatia for a month-long trial denied and was available at training.
Meanwhile, midfielder Devine Mhindirira is back in the team after he was cleared following a disciplinary hearing held on Tuesday.
The 2022 season Soccer Star of the Year finalist was called for a disciplinary hearing after he missed Bosso’s first three weeks of pre-season training.