Eshihanda angling for continental bow against Al Hilal

Brian Eshihanda stood in for Kakamega Homeboyz captain Moses Mudavadi in the leadership role a lot last season. For a player in just his third season with the club, one can say it was a meteoric rise.

A six-goal haul for the season is immense for a centre-back but that is what he accomplished as Homeboyz finished 8th in the league and won the Mozzart Bet Cup.

Now, as the team angles for its first ever continental fixture against Al Hilal Benghazi this Friday, Eshihanda can’t wait to lay his hands on the Libyans.

‘’We are targeting a win, of course. Being the first to play at home means we have to score goals and get the win. It will be a first for many players on the team, and that makes it even more exciting. The boys are all pumped up for the show,’’ he says.

Homeboyz played three pre-season matches, including an international tie against Ugandan giants KCCA in Uganda. Though losing the contest 2-0, Eshihanda picked up positives.

‘’We've got three games in the pre-season. Won against Kimilili Combined and Wazito, then lost to KCCA of Uganda. All were very helpful matches towards our preparation, the Ugandan one especially. We lost and saw our vulnerabilities, and we have worked on them,’’ 

‘’At the moment, we feel we’ve had enough intense training, and what we’re focusing on is finishing,’’ he adds.

Coach Patrick Odhiambo’s boys lost to Gor Mahia in the FKF Charity Shield on Saturday, a match that Eshihanda feels they should have won. Gor had taken the lead, but Homeboyz forced the tie into penalties through Eric Ambunya. Homeboyz would lose 4-2.

‘’I think we had little time to warm up, and that affected how we started the game. We started badly but grew into it. Even after conceding, we still came back, and when it went to penalties, anyone could have won. All the same, it was a good preparation for us,’’ continues the 23-year-old centre back.

It will be Homeboyz’s first continental appearance, just as it was the team’s first time lifting the domestic cup. They take on Al Hilal Benghazi on the 18th at the Nyayo National Stadium before flying out for the return leg.

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