Elli Asieche/ HANDOUTMathare United head coach John Kamau is pinning his hopes on talisman Elli Asieche to fire the Slum Boys to a second successive victory when they take on Tusker in today’s SportPesa Premier League clash at the Dandora Stadium, kick-off 3 pm.
Asieche has carried Mathare’s ambitions squarely on his shoulders since the new campaign kicked off. In their season opener against Posta Rangers, his composed spot-kick in the first half was the lone spark in a 2-1 defeat. Asieche proved decisive once again over the weekend, striking in the first half to hand Mathare a battling 1-0 victory over KCB.
Kamau is convinced Asieche will once more be the difference-maker in what promises to be a stern test against the Brewers. “Playing Asieche as a false nine, we are getting something out of him,” Kamau explained. The tactician went on to hail the intelligence of his forward’s movement.
“With our style of play, Asieche has been making very clever runs,” he said. “His runs open up the opponent’s backline, give us a numerical advantage and create the spaces we need to hurt teams.”
Reflecting on the narrow win over KCB, Kamau praised his players’ mental fortitude after their setback against Rangers. “I think we showed real mental toughness,” he noted.
“In the last game against Rangers, we were a goal up heading into the second half, but ended up losing. To respond the way we did, especially with just two days to prepare while our opponents had more rest, I am delighted with the boys’ character.”
The coach added that correcting errors from their opening-day defeat was pivotal in grinding out three points against KCB. “We made mistakes in the match against Rangers and we went back and fixed them,” Kamau said with confidence.
Mathare now lock horns with a Tusker side desperate for redemption after a faltering start.
The 12-time league champions are winless in their opening two matches, having been undone 2-0 by KCB in their opener courtesy of a Boniface Omondi brace, before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Posta Rangers — Eliud Lokuwam’s double cancelling out Erick Kapaito’s consolation.
Last season, Tusker claimed the honours in the first leg with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from John Njuguna and James Kibande.
But Mathare hit back in the reverse fixture, Musa Masika’s brace sealing a hard-fought 2-1 win, with Deogratious Ojok on target for the Brewers.
