BACK ON TRACK: Two wins restore Tusker’s Premier League title dreams

AFC leopards defender Martin Imbalambala against Jesse Were during KPL match at Nyayo Stadium on April 15, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

It has been a tough start to the season for Tusker but two wins in a row could just have put them back on track.

The brewers edged AFC Leopards 1-0 in Saturday’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match at Nyayo Stadium and with it moved to fourth position on the log.

Before then, they had thumped Western Stima 3-1 and coach Francis Kimanzi believes the two wins have given his side invaluable confidence.

“Those were important wins in terms of giving us the confidence to face the future. For the players, these are important results and we hope they can inspire us going forward,” he said.

He admitted they have delayed to take off owing to the huge number of new players they brought on board at the beginning of the season.

“We are always trying to introduce one or two players and as any coach would tell you, it is a huge task to bring in someone from a different culture. We are slowly getting there,” he said.

Kimanzi, who lost two key goalkeepers last season, said he is happy with the progress of young star Farouk Sikhalo who has had to fill in the big shoes of Samuel Odhiambo - now at Ushuru - and Boniface Oluoch, who joined Gor Mahia.

“Sikhalo is coping well and he looks set to become one of the top goalkeepers in the league. His progress shows the value of investing in young goalkeepers,” said the coach.

Kimanzi also admitted he was worried about the form of AFC Leopards players during Saturday’s game and expressed delight that none of them picked any serious injury.

AFC Leopards players had boycotted training the whole week, protesting non-payment of salaries and allowances and on this, Kimanzi says, he is with them.

“Though going on strike is never a solution to such problems, the players deserve to be paid. They are working and should be paid as and when due. We have so many successful community clubs on the continent and perhaps it is time the Leopards management borrowed a leaf from them in turning around the club.”

Champions Gor Mahia retained their place at the top of the log after beating Ushuru 2-0 at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday. With the win, Gor bounced back to winning ways in a performance that left coach Frank Nuttall delighted.

“This was a great result for us and the players put in a great performance in every aspect,” he said.