- The team is camping in Arusha for one week
- They will play two friendly matches
- They play Coastal Union on Thursday and second tier side Mbuni on Saturday
FKF Premier League side Tusker FC have confirmed two friendly matches in their pre-season camp in Arusha, Tanzania, as they continue with their build up for the new season.
The brewers have been in Tanzania from Sunday, and are scheduled to play Tanzanian Premier League side Coastal Union on Thursday at the Ushirika Stadium in Moshi, before facing off with second tier side Mbuni FC at the Sheikh Abeid Karume Stadium in Arusha on Saturday, their last day of pre-season training camp.
Tusker’s head coach Robert Matano believes the two friendly matches will be vital for his side as he gauges their cohesiveness with several new players, most of them starters, having joined the side.
“It is good to play these games against teams we don’t know much about to see how we can cope as a team. It is also good to test what we have worked on so far and know what to do to improve,” the coach noted.
Tusker lost the league title by a point on the last day of last season, as well as losing the Cup final by a solitary goal to Kakamega Homeboyz.
They are looking to get back on top of things in the coming season, despite losing several key players.
Experienced players left the club
Humphrey Mieno heads the ball under pressure from Sidney Ochieng
Among first team players who left the club include skipper Humphrey Mieno, Jackson Macharia and Shami Mwinyi.
They have roped in several new players with James Kibande and Joseph Mwangi from Nzoia Sugar as well as midfielder Fabien Adikiny and Ugandan John Byamukama from Gaddafi FC.
At the same time, the team has confirmed that defender Charles Momanyi will be the new captain, taking over from Mieno.
Momanyi says he is delighted to have landed the role, and looks forward to leading the team back to glory.
“It is a great honour to be handed the captaincy of a big team such as Tusker FC. I am looking forward to the challenge and I hope that I can lead the team back to winning titles,” Momanyi said.
“It is a huge responsibility and I thank my teammates for their cooperation so far. Hopefully we keep working hard to deliver success,” added the former Gor Mahia defender.
Brewers still seeking to strengthen
Tusker FC’s new signings; Fabien Adikiny, James Kibande, Edwin Simiyu, John Byamukama and Joseph Mwangi
Momanyi will be assisted by goalkeeper Brian Bwire and fellow defender Michael Kibwage.
At the same time, the brewers are still not yet done with their transfer business. They are still looking for three more players, with a defensive midfielder and a defender top of their priority.
The club is reportedly working on a deal to rope in midfielder Sven Yidah who has left South African side Marumo Gallants as well as striker Erick Kapaito who has left Ethiopia and had a deal to Zambia’s Zanaco fall through.
The two have held initial discussions with the club, but are yet to land any conclusive agreement, but should be able to do so in the coming weeks with the league kick off only two weeks away.
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