Tusker FC’s day of reckoning is here

Kenya beermakers face powerful Azam in knock out round decider

A day of reckoning beckons today for Kenya Premier League champions Tusker when they face Tanzanian side Azam FC in a group “B” match of the ongoing Cecafa Kagame Cup. The match will determine who among the three teams in the group that also includes Mafunzo form Zanzibar advances into the knockout stage of the regional club championship. “Today is a  life or death match for us.We expected our group was not going to be easy and now its even harder for us  after the draw with  Mafunzo. We have to take all the chances we create today if we are to reach the quarter finals,”stated Tusker coach Sammy Omollo in the wake of their barren draw with  the champions from the clove island on Thursday.

Both the brewers and Azam  have one point going into this penultimate fixture of the group and only a goal-scoring draw or an outright win will do for Tusker Omollo revealed his frustration at the way  his wingers played Mafunzo saying they had to improve  today if they are to have any chance of beating Azam. “Our game plan is  normally based on wide wing play and we did not do that well against Mafunzo. We have to get it right today and create chances to score goals,”he opined.

Joshua Oyoo and Patrick Kagogo were guilty of not stretching their opponents defence  and linking up with  striker Dennis Mukaisi on time  and that will need to change today against Azam, who themselves are a well organised outfit capable of matching the brewers on all fronts. Azam need only a draw of whatever kind to reach the last eight. Striker John Mboco, a scorer against Mafunzo in their 1-1 draw is yet again likely to  be preferred upfront to Kenyan forward George “Blackberry” Odhiambo while midfielder Khamis Mcha Khamis will be relied on to provide the ammunition for their front men.

Meanwhile Tanzanian champions Simba face off with DR Congo’s Vita AS in their final Group “A” match. Both teams have already booked a place in the last eight and will be fighting it out to decide who finishes second in the Group behind Uganda’s  URA. Both teams go into this encounter with three points after  being beaten by URA in their previous matches and  will be keen to send a marker ahead of the quarter finals  that will kick off on Monday. Vita in particular will be keen to bounce back after being humbled by URA 3-1 in their last match having taken the lead early in the second half of that match while Simba will be hoping to build on the momentum they gained  when they  whipped Ports 3-0.