Tusker’s turn
Last updated on 19 Jul 2012 00:00
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| Tusker players train before they jetted to Dar-es-Salaam for the Cecafa tournament.. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD] |
By ERNEST NDUNDA in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Tusker, Kenya’s representatives at this year’s Cecafa Club Championships start their title chase this afternoon when they clash with Mafunzo of Zanzibar at the National Stadium.
This is a match Tusker coach Sammy Omollo knows he must win and pray for a draw in Saturday’s match against Tanzania’s Azam for them to advance to the quarter-finals.
Tusker trained yesterday morning at the University of Dar-es-Salaam ground with Omollo confident his charges will teach Mafunzo a football lesson.
“We are not on holiday in Dar-es-Salaam. We are here for a purpose and this would be translated into victory tomorrow,” said Omollo.
He said his team’s current run in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) ascertains that Tusker is ready to win the Cecafa Championships and go back to Kenya to continue with its good run in the KPL.
“The morale is high at camp and we are raring to go. All teams in the Cecafa Championships are equally good and we shall take them the way they come,” said Omollo.
Omollo has George Opiyo, Samuel Odhiambo and Boniface Oduor to decide who will be between the posts and a strong defence of Humprey Okoti, Jockins Atudo, Luke Ochieng’, skipper Joseph Shikokoti, Bernard Ochieng’ and Isaac Otieno.
In midfield he has Fred Ojwang, Fred Onyango, Jerry Santos, Andrew Murunga, Josepht Mbugi and Joshua Oyoo to pick from.
Omollo will have no problem in deciding who will go for goals as he has strong squad of Dennis Mukaisi, Obadiah Ndege, Joseph Emeka, Dan Matengo and Kennedy Otieno.