Tusker face KPL champs Gor Mahia in Super Cup

By GILBERT WANDERA

KENYA: New Tusker coach Francis Kimanzi will be on the touchline for the first time when his side take on Gor Mahia in the DSTV-Super Cup clash at Nyayo Stadium today.

Kimanzi, who is also a former Harambee Stars coach, was hired three weeks ago to take over from sacked Robert Matano, who failed to retain the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title with Tusker.

It is the first time Kimanzi is returning to local football action in almost one year, but he insists the long absence has not affected him.

“I have been very active even out of the limelight and actually doing better after attending several coaching courses abroad. Furthermore, local football has not changed much since I took a brief break and so I have not been left out a lot. I have also kept a keen interest and remain aware of the current trends. It will not take me long to gel,” Kimanzi told FeverPitch.

The coach has vowed to turn around Tusker by instilling professionalism in the team.

“We have everything here at Tusker and I believe that with a little professionalism, this team should be able to start rising to the occasion in terms of what is expected of them on the pitch,” he said.

This is a familiar battle for Kimanzi as he comes face to face with Gor Mahia coach, Bobby Williamson, whom he lost to in the final of the Senior Challenge Cup in 2008 in Kampala when both tacticians were still in charge of their national teams.

Today is the first time that both coaches are meeting since that 2008 final, which Uganda Cranes ran away with after registering a narrow 1-0 win.

Today’s match could not have come at a worse time for both coaches, considering that it is being played one month after the season ended and majority of the their players are already on a holiday mood.

The match will provides a perfect opportunity for both coaches to test their new signings ahead of the new season. Tusker have signed Lloyd Wahome and Osborne Monday both from Mathare United while Gor Mahia have acquired former Western Stima midfielder Daniel Onyango and John Kariuki who was at relegated side Karuturi Sports.