Buoyant Bandari off to Tanzania for SportPesa Cup

Bandari head coach Bernard Mwalala (left) talks to his players after their last training session at Mbaraki Sports Club on January 19, 2019 prior to leaving for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to take part in the SportPesa Cup. PHOTO | ABDULRAHMAN SHERIFF |

What you need to know:

  • A 29-man contingent from SportPesa Premier League side Bandari left the country on Saturday night

  • The travelling party consists of 22 players, five technical bench officials and two members of the club's management

  • Team captain Felly Mulumba said all their concentration is on the quarter-final match against Singida United from Tanzania

A 29-man contingent from SportPesa Premier League side Bandari left the country on Saturday night for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to participate in the SportPesa Cup set to kick-off next Tuesday.

The travelling party consists of 22 players, five technical bench officials and two members of the club's management.

The technical bench officials are Bernard Mwalala (head coach), Nassoro Mwakoba (assistant coach), Wilson Oburu (team manager), Ali Abdalla (kit manager) and a medic who was yet to be named.

Bandari’s Chief Executive Officer Edward Oduor is the head of delegation. He will be accompanied by vice-chairman Musa Hassan Musa.

Speaking to Nation Sport at Mbaraki Sports Club on Saturday after naming his team, Mwalala said they are targeting to win the tourney despite this being their maiden appearance.

“We’ve trained hard for the tournament and our aim is to win it. We’ll take our opening match against Singida United seriously to qualify for the semi-final against either Simba or AFC Leopards,” said Mwalala.

He said all his 29 players are in top form but he had to select 22 as per tournament regulations.

Team captain Felly Mulumba said their focus is on the quarter-final match against Singida United from Tanzania.

“We’re all set to make sure we win our first match against Singida and then we plan how to tackle our next opponents,” said Mulumba.

Squad

Goalkeepers

Farouk Shikalo, Mustafa Oduor, Michael Wanyika

Defenders

Felly Mulumba, Bernard Odhiambo, Brian Otieno, Dan Guya, Dan Otewa, Siraj Mohamed, Fred Nkata, Nicholas Mejja

Midfielders

Collins Agade, Wilberforce Lugogo, Hamisi Abdalla, Keegan Ndemi, Moses Mudavadi, David King’atua, Abdalla Hassan, Darius Msagha

Strikers

William Wadri, Yema Mwana, Wycliffe Ochomo