Tusker out to end two game winless run

Tusker’s bid to inch closer to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF PL) gong will be put to test again on Wednesday afternoon when the club confronts Bandari at the Mbaraki Stadium.

The eleven-time champions have in the recent weeks lurched in the race after playing Mathare United to a barren draw before bowing 1-0 to Nairobi City Stars, a run which has attracted pressure to their side as they trail second-placed KCB by a point.

With the two teams having five rounds to play, the brewers will be hoping to end their two-game winless run and stay firmly at the top of the log. 

However, they face a daunting task in arresting the poor form courtesy of the threat posed by the opponents and the difficult conditions down at the coast. 

Ahead of the match, Tusker centre back Rodgers Aloro is confident that they will add salt to Bandari's injuries and steer clear of the bankers.

"We did not play well in our last match and we can't afford to repeat the same mistake. We have prepared well for the match and I am sure we will carry the day, the conditions notwithstanding. It's a men's game and we have be tough," said the former Sofapaka defender. 

 Tusker welcome the duo of Henry Meja and Boniface Muchiri back in the squad after missing a couple of their matches due to their engagement with the national U23 team in the recently concluded CECAFA tournament.

As Tusker seek to draw closer to the gong unveiled last week by FKF President Nick Mwendwa, Bandari will be looking to capitalize on home comfort and redeem themselves from a 4-1 drubbing in the hands of Nzoia Sugar.

Matano banking on Tusker's strong mettle against Bandari

The former Cup holders who will have Umaru Kasumba who was serving a two-game suspension thanks to a red card were shocked by the relegation fighting club and will have to get back to winning ways if they are to achieve a respectable finish.

Goalkeeper Justin Ndikumana is certain that Tusker will be in for a beating even as he aims to keep a clean sheet and equal that of Ulinzi custodian James Saruni.

"We were caught off guard by Nzoia but we have sealed the loopholes. We have to pick maximum points to improve our chances of finishing high on the log. It is also a match I want to keep a clean sheet," he said.

The first leg ended in a barren draw at the Utalii Grounds. Tusker have won four of the last eight matches while Bandari have savoured victory twice with an equal number of matches ending evenly.