CAPS United team manager, Sean Connor, says he was surprised that Warriors' coach Rahman Gumbo chose to work with such a large pool of players ahead of Zimbabwe's World Cup qualifier against Guinea last Sunday.
Gumbo had 35 players in camp all week after he included Esrom Nyandoro and David Sengu who were not on the original list.
Connor's CAPS United beat FC Platinum 3-1 in their last league meeting and Gumbo invited Sengu into camp.
Responding to questions from journalists at his weekly press conference yesterday, Connor believes Gumbo should have settled for fewer players ahead of the game.
"I was a bit surprised when I heard that there were 35 players in camp.
"In my opinion, that number was a little too big.
"As a coach to the national team, I believe one should only call players with a genuine opportunity of playing.
"It's good maybe to have locally based to help with the training in some cases," said Connor.
Before the league took a break, Connor had stoked the flames when he said FC Platinum were small boys when compared to CAPS United.
The Northern Irishman appeared to get the last laugh after his side beat FC Platinum 3-1 at the National Sports Stadium.
Connor watched the Warriors losing 1-0 to Guinea but believes Zimbabwe still stands a chance if Gumbo adopts and sticks to a particular game plan.
"I saw the Zimbabwe team dominating on Sunday but failing to score.
"As an Irishman, who is based here, I want Zimbabwe to win and you should draw lessons from our own national team.
"Ireland were considered a small football nation but we have qualified for Euro Championship because we stuck to the same game plan.
"So it is possible for Zimbabwe to get positive results in their next games if they identify a particular game style and play a definite plan," said Connor.
Connor pointed out that he was blasted in the early games of the season but his work had started bearing results just before the Castle Lager Premiership took a hiatus.
"I was criticised for sticking to Washington (Pakamisa) and Clive (Kawinga) in the early games but these players now have confidence.
"In think they are gelling and beginning to understand what we want to do," he said.
As action in the league resume this weekend, CAPS United travel to Ascot where they face Hardbody on Sunday.
"The expectation we have as a team is to improve week in, week out.
"After every game we have got 24 hours to try and reflect on our performance and then move forward.
"We have been winning games before the break and I must say the rest has allowed one or two players to recover from injuries.
"Now we hope Tendai Samanja will be back but there is also Marvel Samaneka and Pride (Tafirenyika) who are injured.
"So in a way the break has given the players a chance to recharge their batteries," said Connor.
However, Connor also fears the break could disrupt their rhythm.
"It's frustrating to stop playing when we had been doing well.
"When you are winning, you want to continue playing but I will not worry about the decisions I cannot control.
"We have been working with the strikers and I try to speak to them one on one so that I instill courage in them," said Connor.
Connor also revealed that he was still assessing more players, among them former Warriors forward Shingi Kawondera, with a view of boosting his squad during the mid-season transfer.
"We are looking for a new striker in our team. At the moment I am looking at a couple of players and we need to assess them.
"The players also need to assess themselves and we are not only looking at physical and technical strength but the mental strength of the players as well.
"We need players who are able to measure up to the demands of the demands," he said.
In the other league matches this weekend, unbeaten Highlanders take on Chicken Inn in a Bulawayo derby at Barbourfields on Sunday.
Bosso will be without midfielder Eric Mudzingwa who is among the players suspended for this round 10 after getting three yellow cards.
Players suspended round 10:
Tabani Kamusoko (FC Platinum), Fidelis Mangezi (Monoz), Raymond Uchena (Harare City), Joseph Jambo (Buffaloes), Prosper Matizanadzo (Buffaloes), Erick Mudzingwa (Highlanders), Gilbert Zulu (Hwange)
Fixtures
Tomorrow
Black Mambas v Motor Action (Morris Depot), FC Platinum v Quelaton (Mandava)
Sunday
Monomotapa v Blue Rangers (Rufaro), Buffaloes v Gunners (Sakubva), Hardbody v CAPS United (Ascot), Hwange v Shabanie Mine (Colliery), Highlanders v Chicken Inn (Barbourfields)
Postponed
Dynamos v Harare City (Rufaro)
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