FKF Cup: Alagic predicts a tough quarter final match against Bidco

Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic anticipates a tough FKF Cup quarter-final clash when his team comes up against fellow FKF Premier League side Bidco United on Thursday afternoon at the Thika Sub County Stadium.

City Stars saw off Ulinzi Stars 2-0 in the round of 16 on Sunday to set up a quarter-final showdown against the Thika-based outfit who beat Egerton University in their round of 16 match on Saturday at the Thika Sub County Stadium.

Ahead of what promises to be a closely fought match between the two sides, Alagic says he anticipates a tough match against United. The two teams were both in the National Super League last season and Alagic understands the assignment that lies ahead.

"Bidco is a tough team, we know them from last year - they are similar to Ulinzi. We have only three days to prepare and I know it will be a little hard but I believe in my team - we can continue to play well and go to the semi final and even all the way to the final, everything is possible, " he told Mozzart Sport. 

City Stars played Fortune Sacco and Ulinzi Stars in the round of 32 and 16 respectively and for Alagic both games were really tough. He opines that other teams in the quarters got favourable draws.

"Cup matches are difficult because you have 90 minutes and it determines whether you go through or you are out. We had a hard draw to play against Ulinzi even the away game against Fortune Sacco was not easy we are not like some teams that got opponents from the fourth or fifth league," he added. 

City Stars had two of their key defenders Salim Abdalla and Kennedy Onyango booked in the first half and had to play cautiously for the rest of the game to avoid dismissal. Onyango was replaced in the closing minutes by Wycliffe Otieno and Alagic says he had to replace the former Kakamega Homeboyz man as he was very close to getting dismissed.

"I sent my defenders out to warm up because I feared they could get sent off. In the last minute I had to take Ken off because he was so close a red card but I think we were very disciplined," he concluded.

Alagic will be hoping to lead the team to the finals and possibly bag the trophy thely last won in 2005.