Tusker players, Emery Muvuyekure [left] and Boniface Muchiri fight for control of the ball with Bandari player Saraj Mohamed [right] during premier league match played on Wednesday at Mbaraki sports club in Mombasa. Bandari won 2--1. 4th August 20-21.[Omondi Onyango,Standard]

Tusker seeks to bounce back to winning ways when they battle Sofapaka in a crucial Football Kenya Federation Premier League tie at Ruaraka Grounds today.

Mathare United will host Nairobi City Stars in an early kick off match at the same venue.

Tusker head into the match in the wake of their disappointing 1-2 loss to Bandari, a defeat that saw them drop to second spot in the standings as the race for the title enters the penultimate stage.

The breweries lie second with 55 points, two points behind leaders KCB who will meet defending champions Gor Mahia tomorrow.

Despite playing three consecutive matches without a win (one draw and two loses), Tusker head coach Robert Matano believes they will win their remaining four matches.

Matano spoke yesterday after being named June’s FKF Premier League Coach of the Month.

Matano beat KCB’s Zedekiah Otieno who came in second and immediate former Nairobi City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic to win the prize.

“I am delighted with this award but credit goes to the players and the technical bench for the work we have put in. We worked hard as a unit to achieve this and we are grateful.

“Now this award will be a motivation to us for the last four games of the season and we will give our best to ensure we win our matches,” said the coach after receiving the award.

At the same time, KCB striker Derrick Otanga was named June FKF Premier League player of the month. Otanga was instrumental in KCB’s unbeaten run in June where the Bankers won three and drew one of their four league games.

Mathare United will be eying to get out of the relegation when they take on City Stars. Mathare got out of the bottom after a 3-2 win over Kariobangi Sharks.