NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4- League leaders Tusker FC have dropped seven points over the last three matches, results that have seen them throw away a huge deficit between them and second placed side Gor Mahia to just two points.
But despite the slump in form, the ten-time champions are optimistic they are firmly in the hunt for the title and will take the fight all the way to the final day of the season.
“We should have done better in those three matches but all the same, we have ten matches remaining before the season ends. We forget what has happened before and focus on those games because we have to battle to the end and ensure we are champions. The league is very competitive and we ought to up our game,” skipper James Situma noted.
Tusker’s slump sunk to a low on Wednesday evening when they suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of Thika United, a match which Situma admitted they started poorly.
“We had a very poor first half and Thika capitalized and scored. We were better in the second half but it was a little too late because we found ourselves chasing the game and we couldn’t catch up,” the tough tackling defender opined.
Tusker will be up for a stern challenge this weekend when they face another tumbling title hopeful, Mathare United.
Francis Kimanzi’s men are six points behind Tusker and have also had a rough patch, losing three of their last four matches to stagger off pace.
It promises to be an explosive affair with the slum boys eying a legitimate charge for the title, as a win will take them to within three points of the Ruaraka based side.
“Mathare is a very good team both tactically and technically and that promises to be a tough match. We should be able to bounce back from Wednesday’s defeat and I know the boys can do it,” Situma added.
The side is set to miss out on the services of Humphrey Mieno and Eugene Asike for the second consecutive match after the two picked up injuries during last weekend’s 3-0 win over Uprising Youth in the GOtv Shield.
Situma admits it will be tough for them missing two of their greatest performers in the last 20 league matches and has challenged those who will replace them to show they are up to the task and step up to lift the team back to winning ways.