Tusker tackle Bandari in bid to move up standings

• Tusker have won three games in a row
• They lost 2-1 to Bandari in the first leg
• They will be without goalkeeper Patrick Matasi

Tusker FC will take on Bandari FC at their Ruaraka backyard on Wednesday afternoon, looking to continue with their resurgence as they seek to defend their FKF Premier League title.

Head coach Robert Matano says he expects a touygh duel against the dockers, who beat them 2-1 when they met in the first leg in Mombasa.

“They are a very good team with good players and it will not be an easy match. They won in Mombasa and we also want to ensure we do so in Nairobi. It is important for us to win so that we close down on the gap with the leaders,” said the coach.

The team has been on a run of three wins on the trot and Matano hopes the run can continue.

“They are different matches with different approaches but they have given us confidence. We want to continue with this run,” he said.

Run of three wins in a row

Tusker have been on a run of three wins across all competitions, with the weekend 7-0 victory against FC Berlin in the FKF Cup acting as a huge confidence booster fior the visit of Bandari.

The team has also been boosted with the news that midfielder Jackson macharia has extended his contract at the club after a period of uncertainty.

Midfielder Macharia has extended his contract at Tusker FC for a further one year. Macharia is the club’s current longest serving player, having been at Ruaraka for nine years.

“I feel very delighted to have extended my contract. For me, Tusker is home, Tusker is family and it was not difficult to make the decision to extend,” Macharia said.

Macharia with unfinished business

He added; “I feel I have unfinished business at the club and this year, I will strive to complete that business. We want to retain the league title and we will work as a team to do that.”

Macharia has won one Cup and two league titles with Tusker FC and will look to make it three this season.

Over the last five meetings against Bandari, Tusker has won three times and Bandari twice. On Wednesday, they will be keen to ensure they make it four at home.

“The players know just how important these points are because we want to scale up in the standings. We have to get a win to keep our title hopes alive.

They are placed fourth in the table with 31 points, six behind leaders Gor Mahia. A win will hoist them up if Gor fail to win away to Nzoia Sugar and third placed KCB who are two points above, also fail to earn victory against FC Talanta.