Tusker out to end Ingwe dominance
Football Kenya Federation-Premier League leaders Tusker go into their third meeting of the season against rivals AFC Leopards short but nonetheless ready to do battle.
Tusker have lost their last two meetings against Ingwe this season, once in the League and again in the Betway Cup and will be hoping to break the jinx today as they intend to extend the gap between them and second placed KCB.
In the first leg, the Brewers lost 1-2 to Leopards who are currently third on the log with 43 points.
Besides wanting revenge especially after they also lost 1-0 to the same opponents in the quarter finals of the Betway Cup, Tusker will also be out to gain the bragging rights, since their coach Robert Matano has in numerous occasions coached Leopards.
Tusker who will miss the services of six key players are unbeaten in five matches and they are bullish that they can maintain the trend even without the six.
“We have a good squad who are ready to fight and go for the three points despite lacking a couple of players like Hashim Sempala, Luke Namanda, Henry Meja, Boniface Muchiri, Christopher Oruchum and Kepha Otieno.
I know we are going to do well based on our training and the spirit is very high in the camp.
We are focused on our immediate match not focusing on anything behind us or in-front of us,” Matano told People Sport.
Experienced midfielder Humphrey Mieno who was the man of the match during their 2-2 draw against KCB where he scored a goal and gave an assist as they came from 2-0 down to share the spoils, has urged his fellow players to go out for nothing less of a win, since the title was now within reach.
“We have to stay focused and play to our best because ultimately what we are yearning for is the title.
The players are psyched up and we will need to put that into action starting with the AFC Leopards match.
As a team, we are on the right track based on what the Coach has been implementing so this season looks great but since our competitors are right behind us in the chase, we must continue doing well,” said the former Kenyan international.
The 2016 Champions are in sight of the championship with 51 points; four points ahead of second placed KCB who have a banana skin duel with Wazito FC.
Meanwhile in a match at Thika Stadium yesterday afternoon, Bidco United compounded relegation threatened Mathare United’s problems following a 1-0 win to move to ninth place on 30 points.
This was Mathare’s 14th loss of the campaign and subsequently Bidco’s seventh win of the season.
Eric Gichimu had the lone goal in the 43rd minute courtesy of a super pass by David Kalama down the right flank.
Bidco had more possession through the likes of Zachary Gathu in the midfield and threatening upfront via David Orem and Stephen Waruru.
Bidco had the luxury of a second goal in the 89th minute courtesy of second half substitute Stephen Okiro following a great pass from Peter Nzuki but he was adjudged to be offside.
The slum-boys who are down at the bottom of the log with 14 points had their moments through the flashy Tyson Otieno, Anthony Oginga and James Kinyanjui but to no avail.
Frank Ouna’s charges are in a bad place and continuously staring at the axe with nine matches to go for them.
With only three wins this season, Mathare United have in the opposite direction one of the worst defenses having conceded 33 goals in 23 matches.
