Tusker shift focus to FKF title as they face Kariobangi Sharks
After being bundled out of the Mozzart Bet Cup, Tusker have expressed intent to win their remaining 10 Premier League matches, starting with the fixture against Kariobangi Sharks at Machakos Stadium tomorrow, to dethrone Gor Mahia as the FKF Premier League champions.
The Brewers squandered a chance to continental football after losing 1-0 against Kakamega Homeboyz in the Round of 16 fixture to exit the domestic competition. Tusker coach Robert Matano has now roared with a warning they have shifted their focus on winning the league title and will fight K’Ogalo to the end of the campaign despite lying seven points behind the leaders.
“We got knocked out of the FKF Cup by Homeboyz and there is nothing we can do, the game ended and we have shifted our focus to the league title, we have 10 matches to finish the season and we want to win all of them, we want to start the run against Sharks,” said Matano.
Gor Mahia are leading the log with 50 points while the Brewers are lying second on 43 but according to Matano, the race for the title has just begun and it will be a marathon. “The title race is still wide open, we are getting started now, and it is going to be an exciting race, we will not give up until we play the last match,” added Matano.
Against Sharks, Tusker will come up against a side, who are lying 12th on the log with 27 points. In the first meeting, the two sides settled for a 1-1 draw, while last season the first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw before Tusker beat Sharks 1-0 in the reverse contest. In the last seven league matches, Tusker have four wins, Sharks have one win, and two matches have ended in draws.
While Matano is glued to catching run-away leaders Gor Mahia, the reigning champions will be keen to stretch their lead when they face Homeboyz tomorrow (Saturday). K’Ogalo have struggled when playing against Abana Beingo, their last victory in the league against them coming last season – 1-0 – at Bukhungu Stadium but Homeboyz won the reverse fixture 3-2.
In the first meeting this season, the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw, and they had also met in the Super Cup season opener, where Gor Mahia won 5-4 on penalties after the tie had ended 1-1 in regular time. In other matches tomorrow, relegation-threatened Shabana will come up against Posta Rangers, while Ulinzi Stars will host Bandari.
On Sunday, all eyes will be on the ‘Cats derby’ as AFC Leopards will come up against Sofapaka. Ingwe are in a good run of form having qualified for the quarter-finals of the domestic cup, and are sitting eighth on the log with 34 points.
Meanwhile, Batoto ba Mungu, who also booked their place in the last eight of the knockout competition, are sitting 15th with 26 points and will be keen for a win to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation. The first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw while last season, the first game ended 1-1 while Sofapaka won the reverse fixture 2-1.
