Will Yanga spoil an all-Kenyan final in Super Cup?

Newly appointed AFC Leopards head coach Dorian Marin (centre) gestures during a training session at Sheikh Karume Stadium on June 7, 2017 on the eveof the SportPesa Super Cup semi-final match against Yanga at Uhuru Stadium. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

What you need to know:

  • Kenya is already assured of a finalist as giants Gor Mahia tackle Nakuru AllStars in the first semi-final Thursday afternoon.
  • The onus will be on Yanga to ensure the locals have a team in the final when they face AFC Leopards from 4.15pm at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

IN DAR ES SALAAM

Will Young Africans spoil a potential all-Kenyan final in the SportPesa Super Cup?

With Kenya already assured of a finalist as giants Gor Mahia tackle Nakuru AllStars in the first semi-final Thursday afternoon, the onus will be on Yanga to ensure the locals have a team in the final when they face AFC Leopards from 4.15pm at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Leopards, who knocked out Tanzanian side Singida United 5-4 on post-match penalties on Monday, will be inspired by the presence of their newly appointed head coach Dorian Marin who has joined the team in Dar.

However, The Romanian tactician will not be in the dugout during the mattch but he is confident the boys will advance to the final.

“They are fantastic lads. We have a lot of things to work on but for the moment they have shown good signs. For now, a win is all that counts. It will boost their morale before we return home,” Marin told Nation Sport after yesterday’s training session at Sheikh Karume Stadium, Dar es Salaam.

“Yanga have a young squad but we shall be going for a win. Football is a game of chances and we have to be clinical.”

Yanga assistant coach Juma Mwambusi, who is leading the team in the tournament with head coach Zambian George Lwandamina on holiday, knows he has an uphill task of ensuring the trophy remains at home.

“Leopards are a big team with very physical players. We have a young squad and therefore we shall ensure our style doesn’t give them an edge. We want this cup at all means,” said Mwambusi.

In the second semi-final, Gor Mahia will be hoping to make it to the final with a win over AllStars, who stunned giants Simba SC 5-4 on post-match penalties on Tuesday.

Gor is the only team in the semis that won their quarter-final match in regular time, following their 2-0 win over Zanzibar’s Jang’ombe Boys in the early kick-off on Tuesday.

Gor Mahia striker Meddie Kagere, who struck twice in the win over Jang’ombe, has fond memories of the last goal he scored when K’Ogalo last met AllStars in the SportPesa Premier League two seasons ago. But Kagere is aware that the 5-0 win in 2015 will count for nothing in Wednesday’s match.

“Whether I win the Golden Boot or not, the focus is on reaching the final. At Gor, we don’t underrate teams, we play to win,” Kagere said.

CAUTIOUS APPROACH

AllStars coach George Maina said they will approach the game cautiously but won’t give Gor Mahia too much respect.

“We are full house with no injuries. We’ve rectified the weaknesses we noted against Simba. All we need is my strikers to utilise the chances we create to kill off the game early enough,” Maina said.

“We know Gor’s strengths and weaknesses. It will be all about who concentrates for the entire 90 minutes.”

The semi-finalists are assured of Sh500,000 already, and a final ticket comes with Sh1 million.

The winner of Sunday’s final will take home Sh3 million and a ticket to play English Premier League side Everton on July 13 in Dar es Salaam.

FIXTURES
Gor Mahia v Nakuru AllStars 2pm

Yanga v AFC Leopards 4.15pm