NATIONAL Premier League 45 Overs defending champions, Takashinga Patriots 1, have dismissed any notion of complacency in their bid to retain their title for the 2024/25 season.

Takashinga Patriots 1 captain, Roy Kaia, highlighted the team’s unexpected loss to Westside of Mutare, which almost cost them the championship last season.

“We don’t need to be complacent, we are going to take each game seriously so that we boost our chances of defending this trophy,” Kaia told Takaz Media.

“When you are the defending champions players have a tendency of sizing opposition and taking other times lightly. But, if you can recall the predicament we found ourselves in last season. The trailblazing Patriots 1 with eight wins on the trot and we lost against Mutare Sports Club. We have started our preparations well and we are all focussed on defending our trophy so we won’t be taking any chances against any opposition this season.”

Last season, the first team based in Highfield faced challenges as they had to go through the Qualifiers route to gain entry into the club’s main 45-overs tournament. Takashinga 1 defeated the Associate side Wadzanai from Mashonaland Central in the NPL play-off in Bindura, solidifying their spot in the NPL competition.

The champions who had trailed Chitungwiza-based club Gladiators for the greater part of the season seized the momentum right on the final day as Gladiators choked at the last hurdle to deliver the trophy to the masses in Highfield.