Gor, Leopards seek SportPesa Cup progress

What you need to know:

  • Meanwhile, Leopards will be up against the Wekundu wa Msimbazi in a clash which pits two teams that are struggling for form.
  • Leopards have only won two of their eight Kenyan Premier League matches, while Simba are placed fourth in the Tanzanian league, and still smarting from that 5-0 drubbing in a Caf Champions League match in Kinshasa over the weekend.

IN DAR ES SALAAM

AFC Leopards rookie coach Marko Vasilijevic says he doesn't feel intimated by the prospect of facing Tanzania's Simba SC in their backyard in Wednesday's evening's SportPesa Cup quarter-final.

And Gor Mahia captain Harun Shakava is also beaming with confidence ahead of his team's duel against Mbao FC at the same stage of this tournament.

Both matches are set for the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, and at stake is the regional bragging rights, Sh3 million cash prize for the winning team, and a historic opportunity to play English Premier League side Everton

"We are here to defend the title and give ourselves a chance of having another go at (playing against)Everton," said Shakava, moments after his team's arrival in Dar for the Championship on Monday night.

"Our opening game against Mbao is a very tricky one because I know our opponents will be fired up for this challenge. But that will not stop us from executing the task."

Besides Shakava, Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay will also be banking on new signing Dennis Oliech and his strike partner Jacques Tuyisenge to deliver the goals.

Buoyed by the recent aggregate win over Cameroon's New All Star in the Caf Confederation Cup over the weekend, the Kenyan champions star studded team will also consist Ernest Wendo and Francis Kahata in midfield, Shafique Batambuze in defence and Boniface Oluoch in goal.

Meanwhile, Leopards will be up against the Wekundu wa Msimbazi in a clash which pits two teams that are struggling for form.

Leopards have only won two of their eight Kenyan Premier League matches, while Simba are placed fourth in the Tanzanian league, and still smarting from that 5-0 drubbing in a Caf Champions League match in Kinshasa over the weekend.

"That (result) was a humiliation but we are Simba and just wait and see how we will recover from that setback. We respect Leopards but I do not see them offering us many problems in that game," said Haji Manara, who serves as Simba's spokesperson.

Against the Tanzanian champions, Leopards and Vasilijevic are likely to be up against arguably the most lethal attack in the tournament consisting former Gor Mahia star Meddie Kagere, Ugandan dangerman Emmanuel Okwi and local boy John Bocco.

Ingwe will also be faced with the prospect of an intimidating strong 40,000 home crowd at this venue and against a side which the Kenyan team has lost in the past three visits.

"I don't fear big crowds, I faced Al Ahly (Egypt) and Esperance (Tunisia) in the (CAF) Champions League last year, so I have told my boys what to expect," said Vasilijevic, while referring to his stint as Botswana's Township Rollers assistant coach.

The tournament semi-finals will be played on Thursday, paving the way for Sunday's final.