Agro’s Omino clutching at a straw to survive

By Gilbert Wandera

There is a famous quote that says ‘A drowning man will cling at a straw.’

Agro Chemical coach Henry Omino believes this saying best captures the position of his team as they take on Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Mathare United at home today.

Omino said: "We are like a drowning man who will cling onto anything to survive.

"Even a draw against United will be a major disappointment for us. We desperately need to win to remain in the league.

"I understand United are also in a similar situation. They need to win to keep alive their chances of retaining the title but they will be in for a rude shock," the Agro coach said.

Despite a third place finish last season, Agro Chemical have not repeated a similar performance this time.

The team lost nine first team players before the beginning of the season and another six during the just concluded transfer window making even surviving in the league a struggle.

16 teams

But Omino believes the worse could be behind them and is confident they will be part of the 16 teams lining in the league next year.

"We have built up and replace our key players and are now set for the remaining matches. We need to win five matches out of nine to survive so for us every one of them is like a final.

"The win over Red Berets last weekend was a big boost for us. It gives us confidence as we face the defending champions.

"It will be exciting to play United considering that they are an organised side, easy to understand their style of play and therefore beatable. We expect a very tight and close match."

Champions League

United upped their preparations for today’s match with a mid-week friendly match against Sudan champions El-Mereikh who were on their way to Zambia for a CAF Champions League match.

Though United lost 1-0 to the visitors, they gave as much as they received a pointer to just how prepared they are to defend the local league diadem.

United will be under pressure to win away as they seek to keep in step with the top two teams Tusker and Sofapaka.

Today’s match was earlier scheduled to be played three weeks but was called off after the league champions were involved in a freak road accident on their way to Muhoroni.

It is the only match on card this weekend as the league paves way for Football Kenya Cup matches.

Elsewhere, second placed Tusker will be without two key players when the league resumes in a fortnight.

Both team captain Jerry Santos and influential midfielder Jaffery Oyando are suspended and their absence will be a big blow to the brewers who are chasing the top title.

Tusker are currently second in the standing behind run-away leaders Sofapaka who beat them 3-2 last Sunday.