Tusker seek consistency as City Stars entertain leaders Homeboyz

Tusker's Shami Mwinyi celebrate his goal against Bidco United during FKF Premier League at Ruaraka Sports Club on Wednesday, 5 January, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Defending champions Tusker will be seeking to build on their consistency in the FKF Premier League when they travel to play bottom-placed Vihiga Bullets on Monday at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.

The brewers have been inconsistent in their performance having lost six matches and won six in their 13 matches played.

Defender Christopher Oruchum urged his teammates to ensure consistency after last Thursday’s victory over Vihiga Bullets, and he still believes the team has what it takes to defend the FKF Premier League title.

Oruchum and skipper Eugene Asike led an astute backline that ensured a 2-0 clean sheet and guided the team to victory after a spate of back to back defeats.

“We are really buoyed up by that win because the tide has really been against us. We have been grinding real hard and we knew the game wasn’t going to be easy because they have really been upping their game. We had said that by all means we needed to bounce back,” said Oruchum.

“I just want to rally my teammates that we should not be carried away by this result, but we need to change the tide completely. We need to win five or six games consecutively something that I know will help us defend our title because looking at the table, no team is consistent.”

The defender says the team expects an even tougher duel when they face the same opponents in the return tie on Monday.

“We expect them to come out more resilient and we are going to add more grit into what we are doing. We know it won’t be easy because their coaches have learnt a lot about our team and we will have to do more than we did on Thursday,” said Oruchum.

Meanwhile, Tusker FC will miss three players through injury ahead of the match.

Vincent Ngesa has stepped up his rehabilitation from a knee injury he picked up in training and should be back fully with the rest of the boys this coming week.

Teddy Osok still remains sidelined from the knee injury he picked up against Nzoia Sugar last month and continues his rehabilitation under Doctor Wycliffe Makanga and Physio Enos Karani.

Captain Eugene Asike underwent a minor nose procedure on Saturday and was discharged, having suffered a slight nose fracture in the first leg tie against Vihiga Bullets. He is approximated to be out for at least a month as he recovers.

Elsewhere, Nairobi City Stars will host leaders Kakamega Homeboyz as Wazito face Bandari.

City Stars and Homeboyz played to a thrilling eight-goal thriller at Bukhungu last week on Thursday after a 4-4 draw and a similar goal rush is expected.

Monday FKF-PL Fixtures

Vihiga Bullets v Tusker

City Stars v Homeboyz

Wazito v Bandari