Pascal back ‘home’ for KCB clash

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Posta Rangers defender Pascal Ochieng’ (right) tackles KCB striker Daniel Waweru in a past Premier League match at the Nyayo National Stadium. Ochieng’ has returned to Rangers and will line up against KCB at the City Stadium on April 25, 2012. Photo/CHRIS OMOLLO

By CHARLES NYENDE cnyende@yahoo.com
Posted Tuesday, April 24 2012 at 21:04

In Summary

Rangers coach Nandwa welcomes former captain for Wednesday’s game at City Stadium

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New Rangers coach James Nandwa has welcomed the return of the team’s captain Pascal Nandwa as the prepare to face KCB in a mid-week KPL tie at City Stadium on Wednesday.

“He has resumed training and that is a plus for the team. Pascal has been a captain of the team for while and will give it cohesion and leadership. He knows the players well,” Nandwa said.

Ochieng has been out of action for over one month over contractual issues with his broke club.

The Kenya international resigned from the team three weeks ago claiming Rangers had violated their contractual obligations by not paying his salary for several months.

Incited players

But club chairman Yobes Ongeri, while acknowledging financial difficulties faced by the club, countered that Ochieng had also violated his contract by inciting players to boycott training over salary payments.

Ochieng said had rescinded his decision after carefully looking at the state of his career.

“I realized in the end I am the one who is losing. I still want to be considered for national duty and I can only be able to make it if I am match fit,” the rugged defender said.

His decision however follows intense informal talks between the player and Rangers. Ochieng said he will remain committed to Rangers until the end of the first leg when he will reevaluate his position.

League contenders

The Kenya central defender is expected to see action today as struggling Rangers look to recapture the form that made them league contenders last season.

Rangers, buckling under serious financial problems, have won only one match in 10 outings and are rooted at the bottom of the 16-team league table with eight points.

They face 10th placed KCB still smarting from their 2-1 home loss to Karuturi Sports last weekend.

The bankers will look to their top marksmen Jacob Keli and Clifford Alwanga, who have between them scored eight league goals, to give the returning Ochieng a fiery treatment.

AFC Leopards still lead the league table with 26 points from 11 matches, despite losing their first match of the season last Saturday, 2-0 to second placed Tusker on 22 points. Chemelil bring up the top three position with 21 points.