Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER attaining their best-ever finish in the league in their six-year stay in the Premiership, Herentals have typically been polishing the rough ends of their ensemble.
They have pruned and grafted their squad, which has now assembled in Kariba for a two-week training camp that ends on January 29. The students finished fifth last term, and they were the best club in Harare, dwarfing giants CAPS United and Dynamos as well as a Yadah outfit, which was inspired by Warriors star Khama Billiat.
It was coach Paul Benza’s debut season in charge of a Premiership team, although he had previously deputised Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, who is now at Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Aware of the second-season syndrome, Benza has decided to maintain the core of the squad while adding some experience in certain areas of the field as he focuses on bettering their fifth-place finish this coming season. He has so far added three players with vast experience in the local game, getting the striking pair of Lot Chiwunga and Ralph Kawondera from CAPS United, along with defender Tawanda Chisi, who was with Manica Diamonds last season.
“We started our pre-season last week, and I am very happy with the condition that the players are in at the moment. We are heading to Kariba for a training retreat where we also intend to have the players build teamwork.
“We will spend two weeks over there, and we hope to have achieved a lot in terms of team building by the time we leave on January 29,” said Benza. “I am delighted as a coach to work with the players that I have at the moment. We have known each other for years, having coached some of them when they were still in our development side, the Herentals U-20 side that plays in the Northern Region Soccer League.
“We have acquired the likes of Ralph Kawondera and Lot Chiwunga from CAPS United as well as Tawanda Chisi from Manica Diamonds. I am very happy because we are bringing experience to blend with our juniors, and I am happy and excited for the upcoming season.”
The students have let go of a number of players, including goalkeepers Nedrick Madeya and Reason White.
Grey Kufandada, William Kapumha, and Stanley Murove have also left while the club are still deciding on who they will drop to their development side and those set to win an elevation to the Premiership.
“We have players who are going to our development side so that they can get to have more game time.
“I have always believed in bettering previous standards. Before the start of last season, I said we wanted to better our position from the previous seasons, and we did that.
“And again this season, I am going to try and fight very hard to try and beat the fifth place that we attained last season,” added Benza.
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