- Tusker face FC Talanta in Machakos
- They lost last weekend’s game against Kariobangi Sharks
- They are now 11 points behind leaders Gor Mahia
Injury-ravaged Tusker FC will look to storm back to second spot in the FKF Premier League when they take on FC Talanta at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday. The brewers will go into the pitch with a thinned squad, with injuries ruling out four first team players from the squad.
David Odoyo, Tom Teka and Mike Oduor have all not trained this week after picking injuries in the loss to Kariobangi Sharks last weekend. Odoyo came off late in the second half with a knee injury, Oduor came off after 35 minutes with an ankle sprain while defender Teka came off at halftime with a groin problem.
On top of that, the team will also be without midfielder Collins ‘Kante’ Otieno who has been ruled out with illness.
However, they will be boosted by the return of Shaphan Siwa and Chris Erambo who both missed the Sharks game on suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.
Coach Robert Matano will have a lot to do to see his side click especially in midfield. However, he is pleased with new player Dennis Oguta who made his debut against Sharks last weekend and capped it with a goal.
Tusker’s new boy eager to shine
Tusker FC’s new signing Dennis Oguta
Oguta was signed by the brewers in mid season but his debut was delayed as his paperwork was getting sorted. The 20-year old is now an assured starter especially after picking confidence from last weekend’s debut.
“It was really tough honestly. At first, I doubted myself whether I could really make it. However, my teammates really encouraged me and told me that I have the ability to do well,” Oguta explained in an interview with the club’s website.
“I went into the field with a bit of confidence and my first touch was good which really gave me the confidence. Scoring on my debut was a special feeling and the only dent to that day was that we didn’t win as a team,” further says the 21-year old.
Oguta believes his performance from the Sharks game has given him renewed confidence to do better and if he gets another chance, he says he will raise his own performance.
“I started and scored and that gives me a lot of confidence. It tells me that I can keep doing the same and that is my ambition. In the remaining nine games of the season, my hope is to score at least five goals,” Oguta says.
Tusker face a side that has proven to be a hard nut to crack for them in the previous seasons, but they hope for different tidings this time.
Tusker coach Matano expects hard game
Tusker FC coach Robert Matano passes on instructions during a training session in Ukunda.
“They always come hard at us but we have to be ready. We have to fight and we have to give our best. This is a crucial match for us and we must bounce back after last weekend’s defeat,” Robert Matano, the Tusker FC head coach says.
The brewers have faced a difficult two weeks, having been eliminated from the FKF Cup after defeat to Kakamega Homeboyz in the round of 16 and the loss to Sharks hugely denting their title hopes.
With Gor having won on Saturday 3-1 away to Nzoia Sugar and moving to 11 points clear, Tusker have to win to keep their slim hopes alive.
They dropped to fourth with Police FC going to second after beating KCB 1-0 while Bandari dropped to second after a 1-1 draw with Bidco United in Mombasa.
Meanwhile, FC Talanta are staring at the possibility of relegation as they are 15th, only two points off the drop zone.
They have not won since January 14, and have lost three and drawn four of their last seven matches. Against Tusker, they have picked three consecutive draws. The brewers have only beaten them once in five matches.
Ken Kenyatta’s charges hope that they can mount Tusker’s problems to give themselves survival hopes.
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