FKF Cup: Can Bungoma Superstars upstage Ingwe once more?

When AFC Leopards face division one side Bungoma Superstars in the Football Kenya Federation Cup this afternoon at the Thika Sub County Stadium, only one thing will be on the minds of the Ingwe unit – revenge.

Back in March 2019, still in a cup match played at Bukhungu Stadium, the minnows shockingly dumped out the top tier side on post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time, memories that will once again spur on the Bungoma side to believe in toppling the current third placed team in the top flight league.

Leopards on the other hand need no better encouragement than avenging that stinging loss. On top of that, after bottling two precious chances to go top of the league standings where they would have been in firm control of sealing a CAF Champions League ticket, Ingwe know that the cup competition is the only escape route to grabbing the other continental ticket available.

Midfielder Collins Shichenje who carried the Patrick Aussems side to the round of 16 after his solitary goal proved enough to knock out Posta Rangers is however confident that his team has what it takes to advance to the next round of the cup competition.

“I am positive that we will advance to the quarter-finals, everybody is working hard and whoever is given a chance in the team is proving himself. The coach has faith in everybody and we are taking it game by game,” said Shichenje.

On the flipside, Bungoma Superstars will be hoping their preparation coming into the match have not been influenced negatively by financial constraints off the pitch. By Thursday the club had been appealing for funds to be able to honour the fixture.

And after struggling to pull through, club treasurer Peter Wasilwa has expressed a panglossian optimism about his team’s chances.

“We have really struggled to get here but now that we are here the boys know what they want and what they have gone through. We expect to beat them the same way we did back in 2019 and that is what we have set our minds on. We also hope they get to showcase what they have,” he said.

Bungoma defeated Nation FC 3-0 coming into the round of 16. The match kicks off at 1500EAT.