Tusker FC takes on National Super League side Nairobi United in the round of 32 of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) MozzartBet Cup at the Dandora Stadium, Saturday at 4pm.
The brewers booked a slot in the second round of the tournament after a 2-1 win over Gucha Youth in Kisii last month. The team is seeking to battle for a fourth Cup title, having last won it in 2016.
Tusker reached the final of the 2023 tournament, and the quarters in 2024, and in both instances, lost 1-0 to Kakamega Homeboyz. The ambition this year is to go all the way to clinch a fifth trophy.
Team form:
The team comes in to the fixture with a chequered form this year, especially offensively. The team has five draws and one win in the last six games, a statistic the boys will look to improve against Nairobi United.
Team news:
The team is still without three first team players through injury. Winger James Kibande is sidelined with a foot fracture while top scorer Ryan Ogam also remains out with a slight knee problem. Forward Thomas Omolle has started rehabilitation aqfter being out since mid-January with a hairline fracture on his ankle.
Goalkeeper Joseph Ochuka, who started in the game against Gucha and was the Cup keeper, is ruled out of the game against Nairobi as he is nursing a hip injury picked in training this week.
Defender Mike Kibwage has returned to first team training after recovering from a hamstring problem and is still gathering fitness mileage.
Opposition watch:
Nairobi United, coached by former Kenyan international Nicholas Muyoti, are the current leaders in the National Super League. They have played 21 matches this season and are on 44 points off 13 wins, five draws and four losses.
Over their last five matches, they have won four; against MCF, Migori Youth, Darajani Gogo and Mombasa United, in their last outing. They have one draw, against Kisumu All Stars at home. They have scored 30 goals and conceded 14 this season.
Coach’s comments:
Coach Charles Okere has insisted the team will treat the game with utmost seriousness, with a trophy and a ticket to continental football at stake. He says the team has worked hard to improve offensively, an area that has been of concern since the start of the second leg.
“For us, every game in this tournament is a final because you don’t get two chances. The biggest thing we have worked on in training is our attack. We have been creating lots of chances in every game but we just can’t put the ball in the net. I believe that if we get this sorted out, we will be good to go. We are now solid defensively and we need to balance that with our finishing,” said the coach.
He added; “Nairobi United is a good team if you look at their squad and how they have been performing in the NSL. They have players with Premier League experience and we have to approach the game with lots of caution.”
