KCB players celebrate after their win over Mara Sugar/ HANDOUTKCB head coach Robert Matano is alive to the mammoth task that awaits them when they take on a high-flying Kakamega Homeboyz on Saturday at the Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega.
The bankers are currently perched 11th on the log, having amassed 11 points from nine league outings.
Homeboyz, meanwhile, are soaring, sitting second with 18 points, just a single point behind log leaders Gor Mahia as the title race begins to take shape.
KCB are fresh from a 1-0 win over Mara Sugar over the weekend, where December Kisakah’s early strike secured all three points.
The victory, Matano said, gave the team a timely morale booster but warned his charges against slipping into overconfidence.
“For this success, we are happy but not overconfident. We are looking forward to the next match,” Matano said.
He called on his troops to brace for an action-packed showdown against a strong and confident Homeboyz side.
“It’s going to be tougher than our previous match, but we have to work hard,” he added, while praising his team’s mental fortitude against Mara Sugar.
“Mental strength was key because we have been working hard. When we concede goals, we feel like we cannot win the match,” he noted.
“In the last three matches, we have been resilient, and results have come out of our consistency and working with a purpose.”
Before the Mara Sugar tie, KCB had secured back-to-back draws against Bandari (1-1) and Bidco (0-0), slowly piecing together a run that hints at growing confidence.
The experienced tactician stressed the need for consistency. Kisakah echoed his coach’s sentiments, revealing the team’s hard work on the training ground.
“Our preparations were intense and the mood in the camp has been good. We have been pushing ourselves, and the results are now evident,” he noted.
The bankers head into the clash hoping to stretch last season’s dominance over Homeboyz.
They won 4-1 victory in the first leg through strikes from James Kinyanjui, Maurice Ojwang', Faraj Ominde and Vincent Ondabu.
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Derrick Otieno and Stephen Etyang netted for KCB as Moses Shumah and Peter Thiong’o responded for Homeboyz.
Homeboyz march into Saturday’s tie buoyed by a 2-0 win over Posta Rangers over the weekend, where Rodgers Ouma and David Juma were on target.
