Now AFC Leopards prey on bankers

After slaying Gor Mahia in last weekend’s ‘Mashemeji Derby’, inform AFC Leopards return to the Nyayo National Stadium Wednesday afternoon to confront struggling Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) as they aim at bagging the Top Eight final ticket.

In the first leg semi-final clash, the two sides settled for a one all draw and Wednesday’s match must produce an aggregate winner who will face Tusker in the final.

Leopards head into this contest riding on a rich vein of form that saw them finish runners up in the inaugural Cecafa Nile Basin tournament. They followed their good outing by making light work of league leaders Gor Mahia last Sunday and the impressive performance has lifted the spirit of their vociferous fans who expect nothing short of victory Wednesday evening.

(READ: Hungry Leopards claw Gor Mahia)

READY FOR KCB

Speaking to Daily Nation Sport after masterminding Gor’s demolition, midfield maestro Charles Okwemba said that they were ready for the bankers.

“The win (over Gor Mahia) is behind us. We have a crucial match on Wednesday (today) and we have to do well. Our good form will not win it, we got to fight in the 90 minutes,” said the veteran midfielder.

Another player who could  be handed a key role in this match by Dutch coach Pieter de Jongh is forward Austin Ikenna. Gifted with pace and stature, Ikenna’s  ability to bulldoze defenders could  play to his side’s advantage with the speedy pint-sized attacker Jacob Keli benefiting from the spaces he creates.

KCB head into the match wounded after a sloppy run in the league. The Top Eight tournament is their real chance of salvaging a season that is on the brink of implosion. From a possible 42 points, they have just picked six, dropping to the tail end of the log.

TWO PLAYERS SUSPENDED

Coach Rishadi Shedu will be without defender Sothens Idah and forward Paul Mungai Kiongera who are both suspended from the tie. Striker Andrew Murunga is also a doubt with a bout of typhoid but Shedu is optimistic that a win over Ingwe will be the turning point.

“We have missed so many chances in our recent games. Against Sofapaka we created chance after chance which we could not convert. If you asses our last five matches, you will notice that we have conceded so many penalties which have affected us,” he lamented.

“We have worked on the grey areas and the team is getting in good shape.” The former Bandari coach at the the same time admitted that the absence of Kiongera will affect the team due to his ability to link up play from midfield.

His absence and that of Murunga leaves youngster Chrispinus Onyango as the lone out-and-out striker to spearhead attacks.