UP-TUKS coach, Evangelos Vellios, is confident that the return of key players should improve the squad's stability, help everyone gel and improve future performance in the competition.

 

It wasn't the best performance by the defending champions, but Vellios says he will gladly take the three points as he knew the first game was going to be tough, especially since he was missing experienced players due to injury.

 

"We have set ourselves a good platform and will use it as our benchmark for the next match. Luckily, we have influential players returning from injury, so having them back will help with the gelling process and also stabilising things," he said.

 

Despite being happy with the returning players, Vellios stressed that his squad is his main focus and not the starting XI.

 

"I have always maintained that I don't believe in a starting XI but rather in a squad of players who can do the job at any given time and in any given situation. We have players returning from injury and they will slot into the squad," he added.

 

Vellios believes that the games will only get tougher as his side looks to retain the title they captured last year and that his side needs to improve on their performance by playin more competitive games.

 

"Our performance (against Kovsies) wasn't the best but we will take the three points and move towards the next game. We are looking to grow in the tournament and improve our performance in each game. There's nothing like competitive games to test the players and show them where they really are in their progress,'' he said.