Tusker seek to move back second with Leopards date

• Tusker will be seven points behind Gor with a win
• They have not lost to AFC Leopards in the last four matches
• Police face Muhoroni in another fixture

 Tusker FC will look to move back to second spot when they take on AFC Leopards in Machakos in the FKF Premier League. The Brewers dropped to third after Bandari FC beat leaders Gor Mahia and victory against the on-form Ingwe on Sunday takes Robert Matano’s charges back to second spot.

The brewers have not lost to Leopards over the last four meetings, Tusker winning twice and drawing twice, and they will be looking to continue in that run of form.

Striker Eric Kapaito, who has been in rich scoring form is hopeful the team can go all out and rake in maximum points.

“We have been working really well and pushing each other in training this week. They have a good run but we also have a good run and we have been preparing for a tough game and to get three points,” Kapaito notes, speaking ahead of the game.

Overall, in the last 32 meetings between these two sides, Tusker have been on the upper hand, winning 19 of those matches while they have lost only six. Their last defeat against Ingwe was in September 2021 when they lost by a solitary goal.

The brewers have been in good form, winning four of their last five matches and will hope to continue in the same run, to squeeze the gap between them and leaders Gor to seven points and keep their title hopes in check.

Tusker face an on form AFC Leopards

Tusker FC players celebrate a goal in a past match

For Leopards, they have been in even better form. They are unbeaten in 2024, and have not lost in any of their last nine league matches. Overall, they are on a run of 10 unbeaten matches across all competitions.

They are placed seventh, on 34 points, and victory raises their top five hopes, though they will remain seventh.

Captain Clifton Miheso knows the team expects a difficult outing, and says they are well drilled to battle the alemen.

“Facing Tusker, the highest-scoring team presents a challenging yet exciting opportunity for us. We have shown this year we can do it and this game will be a test of our resilience against a top team. We will need to stay organized and capitalize on our chances to secure a positive result,” the winger noted.

Leopards head coach Thomas Trucha says his team has prepared for a stern test, and will once again look to rake in another vital victory.

“It’s a big one. Tusker FC is back on track with very experienced coach always hungry to beat AFC Leopards, for us is the match to see how far we are in our project and how high we can go on the log this season,” noted the tactician.

Police FC host relegation fighting Muhoroni

Police FC defender Abud Omar in action against Ulinzi’s John Kago

In other matches to be played on Sunday, other title hopefuls, Police FC, will be at home, taking on relegation battling Muhoroni Youth at home. Police are sixth in the standings with 38 points, 12 points behind leaders Gor, but victory can potentially reduce that gap to nine.

Head coach Salim Babu, who has not tasted defeat since he took charge of the team at the turn of the new year, hopes his side can bounce back from their draw against Ulinzi Starts last Monday, and move their title hopes back on track.

In the early kick off at the Police Sacco Grounds, Posta Rangers, also with distant title hopes, will take on Kariobangi Sharks looking to bounce back from last week’s embarrassing loss to Gor Mahia.

The mailmen, on 39 points, can move to within eight of Gor if they manage a win against Sharks. The latter, 15^th in the standings with 24 points, have only one win in the last five and with the relegation cloud lurking over their heads, need a win at all costs to push up the log.

In other fixtures, Kakamega Homeboyz hosts Ulinzi Stars in Mumias and Nzoia Sugar face FC Talanta in Bungoma.