Gor Mahia head coach Jonathan McKinstry has expressed confidence in their ability to run over champions Tusker on their way to a 20th Kenyan Premier League title.
The Irish tactician reckons his charges will emphatically bounce back from their heart-wrenching Mashemeji derby loss to arch-rivals AFC Leopards a fortnight ago to topple the brewers at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
“We are eager to win our next match against Tusker. Losing is unimaginable. That would be too costly for us. Our focus is on delivering the 20th title this season. It would be catastrophic to crash to Tusker on Sunday,” McKinstry said.
“The morale in the camp ahead of the match is encouraging. The players have responded very well in training sessions and the energy they are displaying is amazing,” he added.
McKinstry admitted that their defeat to Leopards dealt their title charge a huge blow but reiterated their desire to bounce back to the apex of the log.
“It’s so unfortunate that we lost the Mashemeji derby last game in the derby against AFC Leopards. That’s water under the bridge now and I know everyone at the club knows just how important our match against Tusker is. We owe our loyal fans a win on Sunday,” McKinstry said.
Wary of the uphill task at hand, McKinstry has urged his charges to push above and beyond to prevail over their opponents in the crunch encounter.
“One thing I’ve observed is that the players look rejuvenated and a win looks very likely. We respect our opponents and we can’t afford to underestimate them. I’ve told my boys to commit themselves to fully on the match because it has the potential to decide the season.”
A defeat to Tusker might signal a devastating end to K‘Ogalo’s lofty ambitions for a 20th topflight silverware.
The brewers have amassed 64 points thus far, one better than K’Ogalo who surrendered the summit following a goal-less draw against Wazito at Muhoroni Stadium three weeks ago that preceded their Mashemeji derby debacle.
Meanwhile, Tusker head coach Robert Matano says they have sharpened their talons well enough to cruise past rivals Gor Mahia in their next KPL assignment scheduled for Sunday at Nyayo Stadium.
The two teams who have been trading the top two positions at the apex of the log for the better part of the second leg are separated by only a solitary point.
Matano reckons that with the contention headed down the wire, Sunday’s crunch encounter could determine who between them gets to run away with this season’s title.
“The match indeed has a role in deciding the title race given we only have four matches left before the season concludes,” Matano said.
“We hope to reap maximum points from the game. We know Gor are good and well organized and so we are doing everything we can to prepare well for them,” Matano said.
