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The Nairobian

Redemption time: Ulinzi Stars plot to gun down bankers as Gor play tricky Top 8 match

Football

By - RODGERS ESHITEMI | Apr 19, 2014

By RODGERS ESHITEMI

Gor Mahia’s Patrick Onyango (right) tussles with Thika United’s Simon Mbugua during their last KPL match. [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO / STANDARD]

After a dismal start to the 2014 Kenyan Premier League season, KCB and Ulinzi Stars will be hoping to redeem themselves when they face each other in today’s KPL Top Eight tournament knockout match at Kenyatta Stadium.

Both teams are coming off defeats and are looking to bounce back.

But a more mouth-watering encounter is on tomorrow between Gor Mahia and Thika United in Thika.

Like Ulinzi, who were beaten 2-1 by Gor Mahia last weekend, KCB succumbed to their sixth defeat of the campaign after losing by the same margin to Bandari.

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But all eyes will be on the bankers as they begin their post-Abdalla Juma era.

The 2013 KPL coach of the year was sacked just hours after the bottom-placed side lost to the dockers with goalkeeper trainer Daniel Oluoch appointed as caretaker coach.

However, it will not be a walk alone in the park for KCB as the soldiers are also aiming to bounce back. And having won the inaugural tournament in 2011 with the team, assistant coach Benjamin Nyangweso is confident they can repeat the same feat this year.

“I won this tournament in 2011 and coach Matano (Robert) won it last year with Tusker. I believe history has a way of repeating itself and we have that chance to win it again this year. We must all work hard and the players need to give their all,” Nyangweso told the club’s website.

“We have had a bad start to the season and progressing to the semi final of the top 8 tournament will be a huge step for us to return back the confidence. It’s a chance to win a trophy early in the season and regain our confidence levels,” he said.

The bankers’ quartet of Benedict Owour, Benjamin Chaka, John Odhiambo and Sammy Okinda have been ruled out of the tie with injuries, while on the soldiers’ side Kevin Simiyu and Fredrick Oruko are still nursing injuries.

But captain Stephen Ocholla has recovered from knee injury and could return to contention for today’s clash.