Tusker out to narrow gap with leaders Kakamega Homeboyz

• Tusker is on a run of 10 unbeaten matches
• The brewers have only lost to KCB once in 19 matches
• KCB are looking to move into the top three

FKF Premier League defending champions Tusker FC take on last season’s second placed team KCB at the Kasarani Annex on Tuesday afternoon, looking to grind another win and narrow the gap between them and leaders Kakamega Homeboyz to just three points.

The brewers won against Kariobangi Sharks over the weekend and with Homeboyz losing away to Bandari in Mombasa, the lead between the top two sides closed down to six points.

And now, pending Homeboyz’s next match, the difference can be three points if Tusker pick all three against the bankers.

“Every match for us now is a final and we will give 100pc to win our matches and get back to the top. Our ambition is clear, to defend our league title,” said the team’s lead striker Ibrahim Joshua.

Joshua has been vital for Tusker, scoring eight goals and assisting once so far this season and he hopes that he can influence results once again, with a ninth goal of the season against KCB.

Tusker’s Ibrahim Joshua takes a shot at goal

While their attack has been sharp, Tusker’s resurgence has been hugely due to their backline that has conceded only once in 10 games, keeping nine clean sheets. The brewers have only changed their backline once, Isaac Kipyegon coming in after Daniel Sakari’s injury.

They are once again out to ensure that they pick another three points and a clean sheet.

Against KCB, the hand of history favours the brewers as in 19 matches, they have lost only once. The only defeat dates back to 2015. They have gone on to win 10 matches, while the remaining eight ended in draws.

Last season, the two sides played to a 0-0 draw at home at the Ruaraka Complex and another 2-2 stalemate in the second leg in Thika when the team came from two goals down.

Ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s tie against KCB at the Kasarani Annex, coach Robert Matano has a relatively healthy squad. Teddy Osok and Vincent Ngesa both remain long term absentees with knee injuries.

Sakari picked up a minor setback in the last session on Monday and will be out of Tuesday’s tie while Rodgers Ouma will miss the game after accumulating five yellow cards.

Meanwhile for KCB, they picked a morale boosting 2-0 win over Wazito FC last weekend, putting to an end a run of five winless matches. They are four points behind Tusker and to keep their title ambitions alive will be out to ensure they bag all three playing at home.

KCB FC head coach Zedekiah Otieno

“We are still in the title race and the victory against Wazito was a huge boost for us. Hopefully now we pick up a good run of results,” said coach Zedekiah.

He has been clear that he wants his team to mark an improvement and that can either be positional or in terms of points. KCB has never won the league and last season’s second place finish was their best ever in the Premier League.