Kapuls banking on experience

By ROBINSON LEKA
Preparations for the national men’s soccer team are expected to heat up eighteen days out from the Pacific Games, with the Kapuls looking to strike from the get-go.
Coach Bob Morris told The National yesterday that he was relying on members of the 2016 Kapuls, who finished second in their maiden Oceania Football Confederation Nations Cup finals appearance, to set the pace for their younger teammates.
Members of the 2016 Kapuls who are in the Pacific Games squad are skipper David Muta, Michael Foster and Raymond Gunemba, pictured.
“I am banking on them to structure and influence the game at this level for the young and new players to feel comfortable playing alongside them,” Morris said.
He said the squad was into their second week of training, and it would be a bonus for the team to have an international friendly before the tournament.
“I just want to assess the players’ fitness levels because after the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League finals, they had a week off so it was a slow start for them after coming back.
“This is our second week. The focus now is on our structural play and combinations among each other, and also stepping up our intensity.
“They (2016 squad) have played together and the team blueprint is already there.
“We just need to condition them mentally to stay focused physically during the tournament.
“The players are looking a lotsharper, and I expect them to pick up the tempo by the end of this week.
“Hopefully, we should have a lead-up (match) next week to test them in a real-game situation.
This will give me an indication of where we are as a team and what we need to brush up on.”