D-Day for Kenya’s Bandari, K. Sharks

Bandari FC players celebrates after scoring their first goal against Gor Mahia FC during the opening of the 2019 Sportpesa Kenya Premier League match at the Mbarak Sports Club in Mombasa, December 8, 2018. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Kenyan teams Bandari and Kariobangi Sharks will this afternoon face baptism of fire as they take on their Tanzanian counterparts as the third edition of Sportpesa Cup gets underway at the National Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

The tournament opener pits Bandari against Tanzanian topflight Mainland Premier League side Singida United at 2.15pm before Nairobi-based Kariobangi Sharks invite Tanzanian league leaders Yanga FC for a swim.

Bandari coach Bernard Mwalala understands Tanzanian football well having played for Yanga a decade ago and he is determined to guide the dockers to victory this afternoon.

“I have prepared my boys well for the challenge ahead and we need to win against Singida to avoid taking an early fight back to Mombasa,” said Mwalala.

Felly Mulumba, Bandari’s captain is not worried as he says they are not going to stop at nothing less than victory.

“Our good run in the home league has seen more confidence within the team,” said the experienced Congolese.

Mwalala will prefer his first choice goalkeeper Faruk Shikalo between the sticks with much improved Nicholas Meja, Fred Nkata and Mulumba manning the defence while new goal scoring machine Hassan Abdallah, William Wardi, Yema Mwama and David King’atua going for goals. The coach has a strong bench of strikers led by Wycliffe Ochomo, Darius Msagha and Dan Guya.

Singida have a new Serbian coach Dragan Popadic, who has over 20 years of coaching in Africa. He previously coached teams in Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola and Ghana.

Singida United are sitting in 13th place on the 18-team Tanzanian Premier League table with 24 points from 21 games and have recruited experienced players Amara Diaby (Cote d’Ivoire), Hans Kwofie (Ghana) and Danny Usengimana (Rwanda).

Singida captain Nizar Khalfan will be featuring in the tournament for the third time and said he would use his experience to guide his team to victory.

“We are set for the task ahead,” said the captain.

Kariobangi Sharks match against Yanga starts at 4.15pm at the same venue.

Coach William Muluya is happy with the return of last season’s Sportpesa Premier League most valuable players and Golden Boot award winner, Eric Kapaito who has fully recovered from an injury.

Yanga are hurt after their unbeaten run in the Tanzania league was shattered by Stand United last Saturday. Yanga have dangermen skipper Ibrahim Ajibu and Heritier Makambo in their ranks.