Tusker FC’s Nkata undeterred as Gor close in

Despite dropping crucial points on Sunday against struggling Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Ushuru FC, Tusker FC’s Head Coach, Paul Nkata, is adamant is adamant the league is theirs for the taking.

Nkata watched his side struggle to break down Ushuru in the presence of his compatriot and nearest rival, Gor Mahia FC Head Coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira and his technical bench at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Ferreira, who had seen his side rediscover their golden touch with a comfortable 3-1 win over Chemelil Sugar, couldn’t be happier with the final result that places them to within touch of the Brewers should they win their game in hand against Ulinzi on Wednesday.

“The pressure gets to everyone. It’s not selective. We don’t fear Gor, they have a game in hand which if they win they close in on us to two points, but this league can be won even by a single point,” the former Muhoroni Youth boss told Citizen Digital.

Tusker’s captain James Situma echoed his coaches’ sentiments, saying it’s not a secret anymore the 10-time champions settling for nothing less than the title.

“We cannot hide our intentions anymore; we want to win the league. We have the quality and everyone in the team is focused towards that.

“We are concentrating on our remaining matches regardless of what other teams eying the same glory are doing. You cannot dismiss any opponent in those six matches, different styles and strengths in them will call for a high level of discipline tactically if we are to remain on top,” offered the former Sofapaka defender.

While much talk of potential title winners have been mooted around K’Ogalo and the Brewers, Gor’s assistant coach, Tom Ogweno, believes it’s too early to judge and the title race could be between the top four.

“We have seven matches to play and others six, his calculations could mean what says but everyone has his own calculations. This season has been tougher than the previous one.

-Deceiving ‘game in hand’-

“Our upcoming fixture against Ulinzi is a different one so we have to put the Chemelil’s win behind us and concentrate on it. The idea of ‘games in hand’ is deceiving, because someone has played his match and knows it’s outcome, but whoever has not played can only talk after the match,” Ogweno warned.

The title race is close yet far for the top two clubs, who will face each other in their last fixture of the season on November 19.

Ferreira urged his players on after the match, admitting that the pressure is not yet off their backs.

“We can afford to smile a little but the pressure still remains. When you are part of a team like Gor there will always be pressure of one form or the other. All the players did a good job,” he said after the match.

Meanwhile, Sofapaka and City Stars remain stuck in the drop zone following their round 24 losses to Ulinzi Stars and Western Stima respectively, with Ushuru eight points clear above the former with 23.

Two more slips in the next fixtures for Batoto ba Mungu and City Stars will seal their fate to relegation if Ushuru wins in rounds 25 and 26 of the league.

Mathare United’s campaign that has been fading round after round suffered another blow as Sony Sugar beat the Francis Kimanzi-led side 2-1, leaving the tactician complaining of poor officiating.

Muhoroni Youth FC failed to score against Kakamega Homeboyz as the, with the simmering differences between players and management clearly affecting their performances.

Muhoroni have been retrogressive in the second leg of the league, since the exit of Coach James ‘Odijo’ Omondi who paved way for former City Stars coach John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla.

Meanwhile, AFC Leopards will have to wait a little longer to get their groove back under interim Coach Ezekiel Akwana after a 2-1 loss to Bandari FC in his first assignment.

Ingwe Chairman, Dan Mule, is on record that they are looking for another coach, possibly a local one, before the end of the season in a bid to fix a side struggling to break into the top ten.

KPL STANDINGS