Stakes high as Tusker host City Stars at Ruaraka

Nairobi City Stars coach Robinson Ofwoku is hopeful that his relegation-threatened charges can stun title contenders Tusker FC when they two teams clash in a Kenyan Premier League match at the Ruaraka Stadium on Friday.

City Stars are currently 15th with 19 points from the 24 matches they have played and Friday's result against the brewers holds sway to their chances of featuring in next year’s top flight football.

Coach Ofwoku, who returned to the helm of the Kawangware-based side's technical bench in the second leg, remains defiant that they are under no pressure even as they face the title chasing Tusker at their Ruaraka backyard.

“Theoretically, we may be out of the league after tomorrow’s (Friday) match, but that is not how we look at it. We are taking it easy, and will go into that match expecting to win. There is no pressure at all because we know that it is very possible to emerge victorious after that match," he told Nation Sport on Thursday.

RELEGATION BATTLE

Ofwoku's charges are three points adrift of 14th placed Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), who visit struggling AFC Leopards in Mumias on Saturday.

City Stars have been in the elite league for the past nine years, but the club has often endured deep financial challenges and has in the past three years cheated relegation by choreographing miraculous escapes in the last moments of the season.

As Ofwoku’s team battle the choking relegation pit, the brewers will be eyeing an opportunity to climb to the top of the KPL table after losing a similar opportunity last weekend when they settled for a one-all draw against fellow contenders Gor Mahia.

Francis Kimanzi’s tactical prowess and his squad depth have been hailed by pundits as the team's main push for the title. The brewers will also be buoyed by the return to form of striker Jesse Were.

Were, who has netted six league goals for the brewers this season, is likely to start alongside Clifford Alwanga and Ismail Dunga upfront while 2013 KPL Midfielder of the Year, Brian Osumba, will be hoping to rediscover his scoring touch. The four have scored 21 of Tusker's 31 league goals this season.

KRA WELCOME SONY

This match will be preceded by another tie pitting Sony Sugar against KRA at the same venue, where Sony will be looking to join the top eight teams in the standings with a win.

Coming under a backdrop of one win in seven attempts, Coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno will lead his charges against a KRA side that is on the back pedal, having skidded from third to sixth place after recording only two wins and eight losses in their second leg encounters.

FIXTURES

KRA v Sony Sugar 2pm

Tusker v City Stars 4.15pm