Tusker’s journey towards a fifth Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup title starts Saturday afternoon at the Gusii Stadium, Kisii County, with a round of 64 match against Gucha Youth FC.
The club last won the FKF Cup title in 2016, topping the cream on a league and Cup double. This was the fourth Cup title for the club, the conquest having ended a 13-year wait for the diadem. The last time the team had won, before 2016, was in 1993.
Before that, Tusker FC had won the title in 1985 and 1989.
In 2023, the team reached the final of the tournament, and lost 1-0 to Kakamega Homeboyz, a similar scoreline that the Westerners eliminated the boys with last season in the quarter-finals.
This year, the team is determined to go all the way. Different from last year when the team received a bye in the first round, this time the campaign starts right at the basement.
Team news:
The team has been boosted with the return of defender Tom Teka who has been out for a month with a hamstring injury. Teka has made the final traveling squad to Kisii and is up for selection. The team has also been boosted with the return to fitness of Ugandan forward Deogratious Ojok who has been out for close to three months with a stubborn ankle sprain.
He came on as a substitute in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Gor Mahia and is in line for more miniutes in the tank this weekend.
The only absentees through injury for this match are defender Mike Kibwage, who remains sidelined with a groin problem, while winger Thomas Omolle also remains on the treatment table with a hairline ankle fracture, but is on the recovery path.
Opponent watch: Gucha Youth
The Kisii-based side plays in the fourth tier, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division Two League, Central Zone C.
Nicknamed ‘The Rapids’, they play their home matches at the Nyamache Green Stadium, about 28km outside Kisii town.
Their last league match was a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Kisumu’s Amani Youth FC, which was their final match of the first leg in their respective league.
They currently sit fourth in the 15-team Div II Central Zone League with 23 points after 14 matches. They have won six games, drawn five and lost three.
