•The 13-time Kenyan champions fended off a fierce challenge from the Mailmen to wring out the crucial maximum points that hoisted them to eighth on the log with 38 points.
•In an earlier encounter at the same venue, Talanta handed Tusker their ninth defeat of the season after thumping them 3-1.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
AFC Leopards head coach Thomas Trucha has said their narrow win against Posta Rangers at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday is a big motivation ahead of the Mashemeji derby.
The 13-time Kenyan champions fended off a fierce challenge from the Mailmen to wring out the crucial maximum points that hoisted them to eighth on the log with 38 points.
Kennedy Odhiambo's 40th-minute goal was all it took to separate the two sides at full-time.
Looking visibly elated after the topflight thriller that attracted a significant crowd, Trucha lavished praise on his charges for exhibiting a great character in the encounter which he said could have gone either way.
"We generally played well and should have won by a bigger margin. Still, we've managed to bag all the points from the game and that's what is important at the end of the day," Trucha remarked.
"We now shift our focus to the Mashemeji derby against Gor Mahia which I believe will be a tough encounter considering the nature of our rivalry in the past.
"Of course, we respect our next opponents. They have been in excellent form this season and we expect a close contest. However, we have everything we shall need to contain them," he added.
Posta Rangers stand-in head coach Benard Kawinzi said they squandered numerous goalscoring opportunities that could have easily won them the encounter.
"It's a fixture we could have easily won if were clinical enough in front of the goal. I think we got disoriented by the early goal in the first half which put us on the back foot and forced us to chase the game," Kawinzi stated.
In an earlier encounter at the same venue, Talanta handed Tusker their ninth defeat of the season after thumping them 3-1. The loss dealt the Ruaraka-based Brewers a huge blow, making them slump down to fourth spot with 43 points, 11 behind adrift of leaders Gor Mahia.
Tusker’s recent miseries continued Sunday afternoon as Robert Matano’s side stumbled to their third straight defeat courtesy of a 3-1 loss to Talanta in a FKF Premier League Round 26 match staged at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.
Tusker came into the early kickoff hoping to bounce back from their two losses to Kakamega Homeboyz —in the Mozzart Bet Cup— and Kariobangi Sharks in the league last weekend.
However, after an eventful start, ended up on the losing side once again, putting more pressure on the team's head coach in the wake of a potential trophyless season.
Eric Kapaito fired Tusker ahead from the spot after James Kibande was hacked down in the area. December Kisaka brought Talanta level with an effort just before the halftime whistle.
Kevintom Machika then capitalised on a defensive mixup to double the advantage for Talanta before Michael Jairo's effort in the dying minutes of the game took the outcome beyond doubt.
The outcome leaves Jackson Gatheru’s side 14th on the log, five points clear of the relegation zone.