Why Tusker FC remains the team to beat
To a layman, the 2021/2022 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League which kicks off tomorrow shall be exciting and overly tough in equal measure.
A total of 18 teams will be in action but there are varying opinions as to which team shall prevail over the others at the end of the season.
Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion which should be taken into consideration unconditionally, but in my own observation, I take a peek at some of the teams which are likely to clinch the gong in the fray for varying reasons.
First of the teams is Tusker which is undoubtedly the happiest team in the land for having clinched not only the title after a five-year hiatus but also the FKF Super Cup after defeating Gor Mahia 8-7 on post match penalties in Thika on Wednesday.
That was a double loss for Gor from Tusker as they had relinquished the league title to the former.
Already, incredible excitement has been building in Tusker’s camp ever since the team booked a ticket to represent the country in the lucrative Africa Champions League.
The Kenyan envoys apparently proved their worth in the Africa event where they eliminated stubborn Djibouti side Artar Solar from the championship to book a date with Egyptian giants Zamalek in the next round.
But that is not the talking point but rather Tusker’s quality signings in the mini transfer window in which it ‘raided’ neighbouring Tanzania to keep their feet on the ground in the local game.
Their success in the precursor of the league at the expense of Gor Mahia notwithstanding, Tusker signed fleet-footed Kalos Protus Kirenge and Ibrahim Joshua from top tier Tanzanian Premier League sides Namungo and Ken Gold respectively and the duo have already showed glimpses of being assets to the brewers.
Even more interesting is that Tusker managed to get the signatures of key goalkeepers in Kenyan duo Patrick Matasi and Brian Bwire.
They also boasts the services of Rwandese Emery Mvuyekure, all the custodians have represented their respective national teams at the highest level.
Mvuyekure has been the regular goalkeeper at the Amavubi (Wasps) while Matasi and Bwire brings to the team a wealth of experience having featured for Harambee Stars.
Further Tusker have captured the signature of ex-Kariobangi Sharks international defender Daniel Sakari who is considered as one of the best right fullback in the country not to mention midfield sensation Shami Kibwana who joined from Kakamega Homeboyz where he scored 10 goals and created two chances. This is an added boon to their title chances.
But it would be brutally unfair to dismiss KCB from the jigsaw puzzle and especially given that they forced the league to go down to the wire last season and almost beat Tusker to the title.
The bankers open their league campaign against Gor and it would be foolhardy for the team’s coach Zedekiah “Zico” to dish out favours to his former employers.
Then there is Gor Mahia who have a penchant for rising to the occasion even when crisis creeps in their camp.
Gor gave a good account of themselves in the Super Cup against Tusker even after losing influential players like Jules Ulimwengu and Tito Okello in the transfer season and their opponents can only underrate the multiple league champions at their own peril.
