Tusker FC is away in Awendo, taking on Mara Sugar FC in matchday 10 of the SportPesa League. The team is looking to bounce back to winning ways after back to back defeats against Police FC and Gor Mahia.
Victory will be crucial to ensure the dream of the title remains on course. Three points will potentially lift the team all the way to third in the standings.
Coach Okere wants improvement
Coach Charles Okere, speaking ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game wants the team to show an improved performance from the last two matches. The two has conceded three goals from mistakes at the back, and the tactician says the technical bench has worked to address this issue in training this week.
“We have tried to rectify the mistakes from the last game where we gave away easy goals. We need to improve in terms of ball retention especially in our own half. We have taken positive lessons from these last two games. The most important thing is that we have been keeping to our tactical plans,” the coach opined.
He added; “We had a good run in the previous six matches, but in the last two games conceding early is what has cost us. This is an area to improve.”
Looking towards the challenge Mara Sugar pose, coach Okere believes they will not be an easy opponent especially in their backyard. However, he believes the team has shown great spirit through the week in training.
“As much as they have changed coaches from last season, their style of play and approach has not changed much. It is a team which is very resilient and fight till the last minute. We are going to play an opponent who plays direct football and we have to be compact as much as possible especially in our own half. We need to avoid unnecessary fouls in dangerous areas and above all we should aim to keep a clean sheet. With good planning and approach, I believe we are going to get maximum points,” said the coach.
Head to head
Last season was the first meeting between these two sides. Tusker won the first leg 2-1 at the Dandora Stadium, while the second leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Awendo, the hosts scoring a late equalizer after Chris Erambo had headed home early in the second half.
Opponent watch
Mara are currently placed 12th in the standings, with 11 points just one below Tusker FC. From nine games, they have two victories, five draws and two defeats. Both their defeats have been at home this season, losing by a solitary goal to KCB last weekend, a similar defeat they suffered at the hands of Nairobi United.
They have only won once at home this campaign, a late 2-0 victory over AFC Leopards.
They have scofred seven goals in nine matches and conceded six, keeping four cleansheets in nine games.
