Having successfully steered Murang’a Seal to top-flight safety, head coach Yusuf Chipo believes they have what it takes to annihilate Mara Sugar in Sunday’s FKF Cup third-place playoff at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Seal, who flirted dangerously with relegation, secured their Kenyan Premier League status with a 1-0 win over FC Talanta at St. Sebastian Park last Sunday, thanks to a 57th-minute strike from forward Victor Haki.
The result lifted them to 13th in the standings with 37 points, just enough to breathe easy. With the league campaign now in the rear-view mirror, Chipo has shifted focus to Sunday’s showdown, determined to end the 2024/25 season on a high.
“The boys will be rested enough for the match,” Chipo said.
He believes they have shown enough fight for results, pointing to their recent stalemate with record KPL champions Gor Mahia as proof of their credentials.
“We have a very strong team, capable of competing against the best. If Gor Mahia can come here and fail to walk away with all three points, it shows we have a solid squad,” he noted.
Seal held K’Ogalo to a goalless draw on May 18. However, the Murang’a-based outfit fell 5-3 on penalties to K’Ogalo in the FKF Cup semis. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Reflecting on the clash against Talanta, Chipo observed: “We are thankful that we were able to secure all three points, which were very important to us in terms of our survival in the top flight.”
The tactician also opened up about the uphill battle he faced upon taking the reins.
“When I joined, the team was not in a good place on the table and the morale was low. It was tough,” he noted.
He reserved special praise for the club’s faithful, urging them to continue backing the team, especially at this weekend’s Cup clash.
All in all, Chipo targets a comfortable finish next season as they plot to become top-flight regulars.
Mara Sugar dropped to the second runners-up decider after losing 3-1 on post-match penalties to Nairobi United following a 1-1 draw in the semis.
In the Premier League, Murang’a and Mara drew both their matches, 1-1 in the first round and 0-0 in the second.
