NO TIME TO PARTY FOR GOR: SPL champs face Tusker in Top 8 quarters
Football
By
Gilbert Wandera
| Nov 04, 2015
That this has been a trying season for Tusker is not in doubt.
Despite signing massively at the beginning of the season, the club is on the verge of ending the season without a trophy that is if they lose to Gor Mahia in today’s Sportpesa Premier League (SPL) Top-8 tournament match at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The first leg match ended 2-2 in Nakuru two weeks ago giving Gor Mahia an advantage going into the today’s return match as they were the away team in the first leg.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Tusker defender James Situma has admitted that it will be a tough one for his side.
“So far we are down. Gor Mahia scored two away goals in the first leg meaning that it gives them an advantage in the return match, but this is football and anything can happen,” he said.
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Situma also pointed out the fact that Gor Mahia are unbeaten also gives them an advantage.
“It makes things easier for them and shows that everything is working to their advantage.”
He, however, pointed out that Tusker have the quality and character to upset the three time KPL champions.
The brewers have only the Top 8 tournament to fight for after failing to get anything in the GOtv shield and finishing fifth in the league.
“It has been a tough season for us no doubt and winning the Top 8 tournament will be a great remedy for us. If you look at our squad, you can see that we have the quality and character to stop Gor Mahia,” he said.
Tusker stand in coach Leonard Odipo will be hoping that the SPL top scorer Jesse Were is in his element in today’s match.
After scoring 22 goals in the just concluded season, Were is still on fire and scoring against Gor Mahia should be motivation enough to raise his game.
Gor Mahia are chasing a treble and they have all the motivation they need to stop Tusker. Apart from the Top 8 tournament, Gor Mahia are also in line to win the GOtv shield.
Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall has his work cut out and will be relying on Michael Olunga and Meddie Kagere to score goals.
Meanwhile, after finishing third on the log, Sofapaka will be hoping to do away with Sony Sugar in the other KPL Top 8 match today.
Just like Tusker, Sofapaka have also had a disappointing season and are in danger of ending it without silverware.
The prospect of winning something in a season that has been bad should be reason enough for Sofapaka to eliminate Sony Sugar.