- Police and Leopards both have two points
- Pressure is mounting on the two sides
- Tusker FC will also clash with Muhoroni Youth
Under pressure Kenya Police FC and AFC Leopards will clash at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Saturday afternoon, as the two sides look to cash in their first wins of the season.
Both sides have two points from two draws in three matches, and for varied reasons, pressure is piling on their technical benches.
At Police, the investment in squad finances has been immense, and coach Francis Baraza is under pressure to bring in results. Two draws and a loss in three matches are results that are far from what the club and its management had thought would be a title chasing season.
Police tactician Baraza is however unfazed at the face of pressure and maintains that his side will come good in the next few matches.
“It has been a tough start but I am confident that we can bounce back. We have a good team and we are only lacking in a few areas which we have addressed. We want to be more combative especially offensively and this is an area we will do better,” Baraza said ahead of the match.
Their last match was a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Shabana, and they had to score a 94th minute equalizer. Prior to that, they have been whacked 3-0 by Posta Rangers.
Tom Juma under pressure
Tom Juma is the new AFC Leopards head coach
Meanwhile, Leopards’ new coach Tom Juma is under pressure with the team underperforming despite many new signings coming in at the start of the season. The team had not been allowed to sign players due to a FIFA ban, but once it was lifted, a flock of players landed in the den.
Juma, who was the assistant last year to Patrick Aussems has been put on the edge by the demanding Ingwe fans who believe they should be getting better results than what they have witnessed.
The club’s Executive was under pressure to sack Juma, but this week, reiterated their support for the former Kenyan international, backing him to turn the results around.
Police has never beaten Leopards in their previous four league meetings. Ingwe has won twice, and drawn the other two. Last season, the first leg ended 1-0 in favour of Ingwe while the return tie was a 0-0 draw.
Meanwhile in other matches, Tusker FC will play host to Muhoroni Youth at the Ruaraka Complex. The brewers have won one, drawn another and lost one of their first three games of the season.
Last weekend, they lost 2-1 away to Kakamega Homeboyz. “We didn’t take our chances and took a long time to settle into the game. It was our biggest undoing but we have worked to rectify that. I believe we have a good team and we will get good results,” assistant coach George Maina said after the defeat in Kakamega.
Tusker with a brand new team
Tusker FC players celebrate Deogratious Ojok’s goal
Tusker are with a new team, having brought in eight new players at the start of the season. Most of these eight are now starters, and it is the reason they seem to be struggling as they are yet to achieve synergy.
They will look to get their first home win of the season against a Muhoroni side which is also yet to win this season. For this clash, Tusker will miss the services of defender Charles Momanyi who limped off the defeat to Homeboyz.
In his place, former skipper Eugene Asike who replaced him after 21 minutes, is expected to continue the role in central defense. New signings Collins Odhiambo and Chris Esambo are also expected to start.
In other fixtures lined up for Saturday afternoon, Bidco United host Talanta FC, while new boys Shabana FC will be at home against Kariobangi Sharks in Homabay.
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