NAPSA Stars Football Club Head Coach, Perry Mutapa, is confident that his team is 70% ready for the upcoming 2023/24 MTN Super League season, set to kick off on August 19, 2023.
Having finished fifth on the log last season, the Pensioners have a challenging start as they host Ndola giants ZESCO United FC, who secured the third position in the previous season.
Following a friendly match against Choma-based Green Eagles FC today, which ended in a 1-0 victory for NAPSA Stars FC with striker Pinoki Vuvu securing this goal, Coach Perry Mutapa shared his overall assessment of the team’s progress.
While the narrow one-goal win might not be a cause for concern, Coach Perry acknowledges that there are areas that need improvement, and he plans to use the two-week period before the new season begins to polish up those aspects.
During the friendly match, Coach Perry assessed all his players, giving each of them an allowance of 80 minutes to test their endurance ahead of the new season. He emphasized that the preseason is more about checking the team’s coordination and fitness rather than focusing solely on results.
Reflecting on the friendly game against Green Eagles FC, Coach Perry expressed gratitude for the high-level challenge, as it provided valuable insights into the team’s strengths and weaknesses, helping identify areas for improvement.
The coach specifically highlighted the need for improvement in ball keeping, fitness, and team communication. However, he also praised the team’s intensity and noted that they are gradually improving, expressing confidence that they will be fully prepared by the end of the preseason.
One positive aspect that pleased Coach Perry was how well the new players are integrating with the rest of the team, particularly in terms of coordination. He expressed optimism about the team’s potential for the upcoming season.
Coach Perry has integrated five promising players from the Club’s developmental side, Young Napsa. These talented individuals are Farai Marabesa and Evans Kayombo, both skilled strikers, Nicholas Chisela, a talented midfielder, Evans Banda, a reliable defender, and goalkeeper Raphael Phiri, who adds strength to the team’s defense.
Overall, NAPSA Stars FC is determined to make an impact in the upcoming MTN Super League season under the guidance of Coach Perry Mutapa, who believes that with further preparation and improvement, they have a strong chance of achieving success.
Following the game, the Pensioners have returned to their current preseason base in Livingstone to wrap up the final week of preparations.
