“There is pressure, honestly because the champions and the teams below us are breathing on our necks. The gap is small and we are at a position where we have to take each of the remaining six games very seriously,” Nkata who joined the Ruaraka based club at the start of the season told Capital Sport. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 11- Tusker FC head coach Paul Nkata hopes his side will have wrapped up the title race by the time they meet Kenyan Premier League defending champions Gor Mahia in the final game of the season.
Nkata admits his side will be under immense pressure if they go into the final match with the reigning champions also having a chance of winning the league.
“That is essentially what we would want to do so as to avoid pressure on the last day. I think it will be very important for us if we ensure we don’t lose in the next four matches,” Nkata told Capital Sport.
The Brewers lead the standings with a four point buffer between them and the champions.
Knowing well Gor’s 12th man influence, going into the final match with a gap of three points and below will be suicidal to their hopes of an 11th League title.
But in their quest to wrap up the battle early, Tusker will have to deal with a tough run of matches beginning with this weekend’s away trip to Mombasa where they face Bandari FC.
They then play City Stars at home and Sony Sugar away in between the GOtv Shield final against Ulinzi Stars, then AFC Leopards at home before the ultimate season banger against K’Ogalo.
Tusker FC head coach paul Nkata gives instructions on thE touchline as the brewers drew 1-1 with Ushuru on September 11. PHOTO/RAYMOND MAKHAYA
“It is a tough path, no doubt. But at this point, every match is a final. No one is injured. We have what it takes, we have the belief and we will drive to achieve our target,” the Ugandan tactician who joined the Ruaraka based side from Muhoroni Youth in January added.
This will be a title fight as tight as one witnessed in 2012 when Tusker won by a single point on the last day of the league. The same was also witnessed the previous year when they won on the final day of the season with a 2-1 win over Karuturi Sports in Mumias, piping Ulinzi Stars to the tape.
Gor, on their side have vowed to give everything in their fight to retain their title for a record fourth consecutive time.
“We are not giving up. The result in our last match was not pleasing but we have had time to work on our errors and hopefully, we will be able to bounce back and give our all,” Gor skipper Musa Mohammed said.
The champions’ immediate task will be the KPL Top Eight final on Sunday against Muhoroni Youth in Nairobi.
Their final games of the season will see them face Western Stima at home, AFC Leopards away in a crunch Mashemeji Derby then home and away matches against Mathare and Muhoroni Youth before the final one against Tusker.
