NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 8 – Only two wins since the turn of the new year and pressure is mounting on Tusker’s head coach Robert Matano. The tactician, whose side started off the season in neck-break speed with six straight wins face record champions Gor Mahia on Wednesday afternoon, in a match they should win.
And, Matano, bullish as he always is, believes that despite facing a tough obstacle with Gor, they will be able to battle for maximum points and get back to winning ways.
“The team has realized its past mistakes and now the morale is high because we have worked on them and improved. Playing against Gor Mahia in itself is a motivation. They are ahead of us on the table, they play good football and are in good form. But we want to redeem our image and bounce back stronger,” said the tactician.
Tusker bounced back from their 3-0 thumping at the hands of Kenya Police with a 1-1 draw at home against Kariobangi Sharks, and Matano wants to see more improvement against a tougher Gor side.
The tactician says they have worked on their scoring, and tightening a few lose ends in defense.
“Against Sharks, it wasn’t a bad performance but not good enough for us. We created many chances but couldn’t score. We have worked on our finishing as well as concentration in defense, things that lacked a bit and now we are good to go,” said the coach.
Matano will meanwhile have to grapple with a headache on the left side of defense, with Boniface Onyango ruled out for at least three months after undergoing knee surgery.
With Isaac Kipyegon, the only other natural left back in the team ruled out because of a current alleged match-fixing case he is facing, the brewers will have to do with a makeshift left back.
Against Sharks, they played Jimmy Mbugua in that position and he might be preferred once again in the duel against Gor.
“It is a blow of course and every player we lose due to injury is a blow. He is a good player, very hard working, committed and disciplined and we will miss him. But we have some cover and tomorrow against Gor Mahia, we will play for him,” added the coach.
He has at the same time diffused claims that they are slowly slipping out of title contention, noting that his side is very well within range.
“The league this season is very competitive. If you win one match you climb some good places in the table. We have lost only twice and nothing is lost. We are still within range,” the tactician, who has won the league thrice with the Brewers said.
History will favour Tusker in Wednesday’s tie at the Kasarani Stadium as they have not lost to the record champions over the last five meetings across all competitions.
Last season, the first leg in Thika ended in a controversial 0-0 draw while the brewers won the return fixture 2-0 in Narok.
