Tusker face Ushuru in crucial tie

Dennis Nganga of Tusker outruns Ezekiel Otuoma of Muhoroni Youth during their Tusker Premier League match at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani on October 19, 2014. Ushuru FC take on Tusker in the first match from 6pm on October 24, 2014 at Safaricom Stadium. FILE PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Tusker and Muhoroni come into their respective matches in the backdrop of their disputed encounter last weekend at the same venue.
  • With 48 points, Francis Kimanzi’s men, who are six points off the pace, still have an outside chance of capturing the league title.

Two matches of the Kenya Premier League will be played on Friday at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.

Ushuru FC will welcome Tusker in the first match from 6pm before Muhoroni Youth take on Nairobi City Stars at the same venue from 8pm.

Tusker and Muhoroni come into their respective matches in the backdrop of their disputed encounter last weekend at the same venue, a match that ended in confusion after the brewers fielded 12 men towards the end of the encounter.

But with KPL having awarded the match to Tusker on Thursday, the brewers will be motivated to take all three points to keep their title hopes alive.

With 48 points, Francis Kimanzi’s men, who are six points off the pace, still have an outside chance of capturing the league title.

The brewers have faced tough times in the second leg, and have made it only two wins in five matches. However, the last time the two teams met, Tusker came out 3-1 winners at Kinoru Stadium in Meru.

SURPRISE PACKAGE
Ushuru, on the other hand, were the surprise package of the first leg but are yet to pick a point in their last seven consecutive matches.

Coach Ken Kenyatta says, they badly need the three points in order to finish the season in a desirable position.

“It has been long since we won a match, and even though we still have many injuries in the team, we shall fight for the three points because it is our desire to finish within the top eight bracket,” Kenyatta told the Daily Nation Sport Thursday.

Geoffrey Kataka is now well-rested from his recent excursion with the national team in Morocco and is expected to partner with the club’s top scorer Roosevelt Blatty upfront.

In the second match to be played Friday, City Stars will have another chance to seek survival when they play against a Muhoroni Youth side that has only lost once in nine matches.

With 20 points from 27 matches second from bottom City Stars are four points away from safety and Robinson Ofwuoku’s men must win this game if they are to escape relegation.

The Nigerian coach has been critical of the officiating standards in the last two matches, but he remains hopeful that his team can stay afloat.

“We have been victims of poor officiating in our last two matches, and I feel there is a deliberate effort to kick us out of the league. But we will fight to the end,” Ofwuoku said.