Tusker FC takes on military side Ulinzi Stars in Matchday 11 of the SportPesa League at the SportPesa Arena in Murang’a on Friday, looking to start the final month of the year on a high.
The duel against Ulinzi will be the first in a sprint of four matches in 16 days, a tough spell from which the Brewers look to harvest well to retain title hopes.
Last season, the team picked four points from the soldiers, drawing 1-1 in the first leg before winning the second leg 1-0 at the Dandora Stadium, Chris Erambo scoring the lone goal.
Coach Charles Okere expects a tough duel against the soldiers, but believes the boys have done the work on the training ground, and will implement as planned on matchday.
“We are going to face a very resilient and tough side and this will not be an easy match. They have done well in their last three matches and it means they have the momentum. For us as well we are coming from a win last weekend away and that has given us the needed motivation and hopefully we carry it into this game,” the coach opined.
He added; “We have tried to work on our scoring to ensure we convert as many chances as possible because it has been an area of concern for us. Overall I believe we have improved across all departments and so we expect a good outing.”
Opponent watch:
Ulinzi have been on a good run, winning two and drawing one in their last three matches. They are placed ninth in the standings with 13 points coming off three wins, four draws and an equal number of losses.
Interestingly, all their three wins have come away from home, including their first of the season against Murang’a Seal, at the same venue of Friday afternoon’s match.
Their 3-1 victory over Sofapaka at the Kasarani Annex two weeks ago is their biggest this season, and the only time this season they have scored more than one goal in a single match.
They are coached by their former title winning captain Stephen Ocholla, who took over reins just a few matches into the season.
Defensively, they have conceded 10 times in 11 matches. In those 11 games, they have kept a clean sheet thrice.
One of their dangers will be captain Boniface Muchiri, our former player, who has been one of their instrumental weapons moving forward especially from setplay.
This duel will also be the first time Ulinzi’s former player Yakeen Muteheli, now draping in the gold and black of Tusker, will be coming up against them.
Team news:
The squad has been boosted with the return to training of midfielder Dennis Iguma who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. The Ugandan has trained with the rest of the squad this week and the technical bench will make a call on whether to hand him minutes.
The only absentee for this match will be striker Eric Kapaito, who is sitting out for his second straight match as he recovers from a recurring groin injury.
