Football: Mathare coach says they are the underdogs in Charity Cup

BY GILBERT WANDERA  and Ernest Ndunda

Mathare United coach Stanley Okumbi has admitted that his team will be the underdogs during Sunday’s Kenya Power Charity Cup at Nyayo Stadium.

Mathare United take on AFC Leopards in one of the two opening matches of the competition.

Okumbi, who was forced to build a new squad after losing key players at the same time, said he is looking forward to the tournament to try out his new signings.

“We are the underdogs considering that we are just building a new team and our opponents have been together for a long time,” he said.

“This does not mean we will relax, but we will give our best and hope to pull a surprise,” Okumbi said.

United lost in the first round last year and the coach does not have big expectations this time around.

“We can just hope to go further this time round though we want to use the tournament to try out our new signings and also work on a new formation.

Big gift

“This tournament is a big gift for us and could not have come at a better time,” added the coach.

Meanwhile, Bandari have set fifth position as the least they will finish after the conclusion of the 2014 Premier League.

“We finished in sixth position last season and my boys are aware that they must improve the performance by finishing among the top five,” said the team coach Twahir Muhiddin.

“We can finish among the top five because we have recruited well,” said Muhiddin.

Bandari signed nine new players and have embarked on a vigorous training programme in readiness for the season next month.

The new recruits who coach Muhiddin described as the best ever are expected to steer the club to greater heights this season.

Muhiddin said he has nine new players who will replace the seven who left after the end of last season.

Flanked by the club Technical Director, Edward Oduor, Muhiddin said he has completed recruiting quality and experienced players for the kick-off of the Tusker Premier League on February 15.

“We scouted well and we have captured the players we needed. All the departments are now well catered for and we are looking forward to the start of the league next month,” said the coach.

He said the club have loaned their prolific striker Shaban Kenga to Gor Mahia and let six other players go. They are Hamisi Mohammed, Morris Odipo, Thomas Morris, James Orudo, Mwinyi Hamisi and Blaty Roosevelt.

The new players are Uganda’s Bruno Sserunkuma, Kennedy Oduor from Muhoroni Youth, Patillah Omotto from Kariobangi Sharks, former Karaturi players Mohammed Mwachiponi and Justus Anene from Tanzania’s African Lione, formerly of Tusker.

Others are Victor Andinya who trained at a South African Academy before joining Parklands Academy, Omar Barafya from Malindi, Kepha Aswani and goalkeeper Omar Zamu from Thika United.