Kimanzi seeks Leopards’ scalp
AFC Leopards players (from left) Noah Wafula, Jacob Keli and Abdalla Juma in a celebratory mood last season. AFC Leopards will Friday afternoon host Sony Sugar at the Nyayo Stadium in the first of eight Kenyan Premier League matches lined up this weekend. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- There was uncertainty surrounding this fixture with Leopards players threatening a boycott over unpaid salaries and allowances, but this was resolved yesterday morning when they were paid.
- Ingwe beat the brewers 1-0 away in Machakos in their first leg encounter. Leopards followed this with a 3-2 victory in the Gotv Shield quarter-finals later in the year before Tusker got a grip of themselves and managed a 0-0 draw in the league’s return match.
- Tusker will miss the services of defender Joakins Atudo, who is out injured, but will have on his side midfielder Humphrey Mieno and defender James Situma lining up against their former club.
Zdravko Logarusic’s exuberant demeanour meets Francis Kimanzi’s arrogant tranquillity on Saturday afternoon when AFC Leopards clash with Tusker at the Nyayo national Stadium.
There was uncertainty surrounding this fixture with Leopards players threatening a boycott over unpaid salaries and allowances, but this was resolved yesterday morning when they were paid.
Earlier still, the league body declined a postponement request of the fixture by Leopards.
On paper, this looks a balanced affair.
However, it will be remembered that Kimanzi managed just one point in his two league encounters against AFC Leopards last season.
Ingwe beat the brewers 1-0 away in Machakos in their first leg encounter. Leopards followed this with a 3-2 victory in the Gotv Shield quarter-finals later in the year before Tusker got a grip of themselves and managed a 0-0 draw in the league’s return match.
“In every match we aim at performing well and getting the three points. The team is picking up slowly, I know, but it is picking up well and we are looking to build a good trend with our next fixtures,” an unperturbed Kimanzi said.
Tusker will miss the services of defender Joakins Atudo, who is out injured, but will have on his side midfielder Humphrey Mieno and defender James Situma lining up against their former club.
Logarusic will surely be worried about today’s clash. His squad skipped training for the better part of the week and he has three key players including goalkeeper Wyclef Kasaya, midfielder Martin Imbalambala and striker Austine Ikenna ruled out with injury.
Defending champions Gor Mahia will be up against Ushuru at the Nyayo Stadium.
The taxmen have already beaten two title contenders in AFC Leopards and Tusker this season, and this is a statics that gives their big-talking coach Ken Kenyatta great confidence. “We do not fear any team,” he said.
