Tusker revise preseason activities in Tanzania

Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano believes in Charles Momanyi, the team has a worthy leader, even as the team adjusts to life without last season’s captain Humphrey Mieno.

Momayi, alongside goalkeeper Brian Bwire and fellow center back Michael Kibwage were on Monday 7 August revealed as the club’s new leadership group, with the latter two acting as the assistant captains to the new skipper in Momanyi.

Asked about any potential leadership holes or gaps following the mid-season reshuffles, Matano said: “We are focusing on the group we have now. Whoever we have let go is gone and that's the past. I believe the group we have here is a mature group that knows the best thing for them and of course has experience.”

On picking Momanyi to lead the side, Matano raved about his ‘experience and work ethic’ that saw him promoted a place up, with the former Gor Mahia player having served as one of the team’s assistant captains last season.

“He is a very good player, mature and disciplined,” Matano said. “I don’t think there will be any gap in leadership since he has been here for a while and the group of Bwire and Kibwage will work alongside him.”

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Also queried on the future of Bwire, who had various sources linking him to a move away from the club with his current contract down to its last months, Matano cleared out saying: “We have promoted him to be an assistant captain. I don't see why that should make anyone feel like he is about to leave. He is still our player and important to us as we prepare for next season.”

The same sentiments applied to full back Daniel Sakari and combative midfielder Rogers Omondi, who have in recent months been reported to be unsettled at the Brewers.

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In a separate interview on Tusker TV, Momanyi, appreciative of the new role, was confident that marshalling a freshened-up squad with new signings was going to be easy saying: “We have some new players but they look to be at home already with what we do. Instructions are being followed well and bedding in over the preseason window will be key for me.”

The squad - including the new club signings in Fabian Adikiny, Joseph Mwangi, John Byamukama, James Kibande and Edwin Simiyu - are in preseason camp in Arusha, Tanzania, where they will now play two friendly matches before returning to the country in the next week.

In a revised program, Tusker - who were set to face off with Mbuni FC, Burundian side Vital’O and Singida - will now play Tanzania’s Coastal Union (Thursday) and Mbuni FC (Saturday).

The first game will be played at the Ushirika Stadium in Moshi, with the Mbuni matchup being staged at the Sheikh Abed Karume Stadium in Arusha.

Tusker begin their FKF Premier League season away to Bandari FC on August 26 2023.