Tusker FC takes on Bandari FC at the Mbaraki Complex in Mombasa, in matchday 23 of the FKF Premier League.
The brewers are looking to bounce back to winning ways after four consecutive draws, and the boys are pumped up to give a good account of themselves and leave the Coast with maximum points.
A win down in Mombasa will be crucial as it will push the team top of the Premier League standings. The team is currently second with 40 points, one behind leaders Police FC, and four ahead of third placed Gor Mahia who have played a match less.
The team has picked four draws in a row; against leaders Police, KCB and Gor Mahia. In midweek, the team fought from a goal down to force a 1-1 draw with Shabana FC in Machakos.
Head to head:
This will be the 30th top flight meeting between these two sides. Of the last 29, Tusker has won 16 times and lost only seven, while six have ended in draws. Tusker has also scored 35 goals in these 29 matches and conceded only 16.
Of Tusker’s 16 wins, nine have been at home while seven have been in Mombasa. The team has drawn thrice and lost four times in 14 outings to the Coast. In those, Tusker has scored 17 goals and conceded 11.
The first leg meeting this season, played in Machakos late January, ended in a 1-0 win for the Brewers. It was a similar scoreline to the last meeting between these two sides down at the Coast, the first match of the last season, with Deogratious Ojok scoring the lone goal.
Team News:
The team has been boosted with the return of defender Michael Kibwage back to first team training, though the assistant captain is yet to hit the right fitness notes. Thomas Omole, who scored the lone goal in the first leg match in Machakos, is not yet back, though he is expected to start slow recovery training this coming week.
The only new injury is that of winger James Kibande, who has been ruled out with a foot injury picked in the midweek draw against Shabana FC.
Coach and player comments:
Coach Charles Okere and winger Eric Naaman Balecho spoke ahead of the game. Coach Okere addressed the team’s lack of goals with only one scored in the last five.
“It is something that we have constantly worked on in training especially the last two weeks and I am optimistic that we will mark some improvement. We scored against Shabana in midweek after failing to do so in three games and I believe that will spur some confidence. We have worked well in training and I believe we are ready for the match.
Winger Balecho, who hails from Mombasa added;
“We know it is going to be a tough game. They are not the same side we faced in the first leg because they have recruited well with the addition of new players and we know what is expected of us. We have our minds focused on getting the three points because we know how vital they will be in the title race.”
Opponent watch:
Bandari are currently placed seventh in the FKF Premier League standings with 32 points from 22 matches played. Over the last five games, they have lost consecutively in the last two, against KCB and at home against FC Talanta. They have won the other three; at home against City Stars and Sofapaka and away against Murang’a Seal.
Of their eight wins this season, five have come at home.
The team has recruited during the mid-season transfer window, and among the senior players who have joined them include goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo (formerly of Tusker FC) from KCB as well as striker John Mark Makwatta and defender Denis Njire Ng’anga who had been in Zambia.
