Revamped Gor Mahia, Tusker face-off in KPL Super Cup
Gor Mahia fans dance before a past match. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO |
What you need to know:
- Rivals Tusker and Gor Mahia face-off Sunday afternoon at the Afraha Stadium.
- The Super Cup is contested by winners of the top flight league and domestic cup champions.
- It will act as a precursor to the new season which starts on March 11.
Rivals Tusker and Gor Mahia face-off Sunday afternoon at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru in the eighth edition of the Kenyan Premier League Super Cup.
The Super Cup, which is contested by winners of the top flight league and domestic cup champions, will act as a precursor to the new season which starts on March 11.
But even as both teams gear up for the new season, the match will be no friendly affair between the two rivals.
Gor, beaten twice in the league by the Brewers last term, are out to make amends this afternoon even though the winner of the contest will walk home with only a trophy and medals – no prize money after title sponsors DStv withdrew support for the competition.
Tusker, with a new-look technical bench, face a revamped K’Ogalo side that is seeking to reclaim the league title after finishing second last year.
This will also be the perfect opportunity for supporters of both teams to watch the new players who were acquired during the transfer window, and will give them a glimpse of what to expect in the new season.
Having lost Eric Ouma and Abouba Sibomana, Gor Mahia coach Marcelo Ferreira may bring in Godfrey Walusimbi into the left-back position in the match.
Rwandan midfielder Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza, signed from Tanzanian giants Azam in the close season, may make his debut for K’Ogalo.
Ferreira faces a selection headache up front with forwards Jacques Tuyisenge, George “Blackberry” Odhiambo, Meddie Kagere, new signing Jeconiah Uyoga and Timothy Otieno all fit for the match.
“You know this is a club whose fans expect you to win everything, it doesn’t matter whether it is a league match or not. There is positivity in the team and I don’t think we shall disappoint,” Ferreira said on Saturday.
“Tusker have had a better preseason, but I think we have a good squad. It is only in midfield and defence that we have a bit of uncertainty because of the departures we had at the end of the season but I think we are good to go.”
Tusker coach George “Best” Nsimbe says that this match is important for his team, as a win will set them off on the right footing as well as give his players the confidence they need to overcome the disappointment brought about by their early ouster from the Caf Champions League last month.
“It is the first game of the season so I would like to start well. We were unsuccessful in the Champions League but this is different. We were not contenders in that competition but in this one we have no excuse,” the Ugandan said.
New signings Vincent Omumbo, Samuel Olwande, Marlone Tangauzi, Victor Ndinya and Moses Ndawula could be presented for this match as Nsimbe fine tunes his side for the 2017 season.
