Tusker FC will be hoping to maintain their fine run in form when they take on relegation threatened Mathare United at the Ruaraka Grounds.
A morale boosting 2-0 win over challengers AFC Leopards on Friday July 16 ensured that the 11-time Kenya champions were on course for the 12th league title.
Robert Matano’s side are now six points clear of second placed KCB and eleven ahead of Ingwe who will be away to bogey team Western Stima.
Tusker made their intentions known with victories over Gor Mahia, Ulinzi Stars and AFC Leopards and clearly, they can smell the league trophy with eight matches to go.
Mathare United on the other hand are just not lucky, a narrow 1-0 home loss to Bidco last time compounded to their relegation wooes and facing Tusker FC at this time is not what they wanted exactly.
Mathare United coach Frank Ouna however feels that his side still has a chance to escape relegation if they pick maximum points on Tuesday afternoon.
“We don’t need any extra motivation,” Ouna says ahead of Tusker tie
“Every game is enough motivation for us because every game is an opportunity for us to get three points of which we desperately need. Tomorrow (Tuesday)we are playing a team that is the best in the league and a win against them will give us the right boost towards wriggling our way to safety. If that isn’t motivation enough then you shouldn’t be with us.”
“We can’t play all eight matches at once. We play one at a time and for now I am only looking at our game against Tusker,” he said.
Tusker won the first-leg encounter played in January at the Kasarani Stadium Annex by a solitary goal. g Premier League and with eight matches left to play, time is slowly running out.
Frustrating
In his post-match comments, Ouna said, “We are down on our luck at the moment. We are playing well in matches and creating chances that if we convert then we are not in this position. It is frustrating but I believe we have the character to turn this around. We just have to be patient with the chances that we create.
“The two or three teams above us on the table are within touching distance, we can turn it around. I harbor belief that we can do it and until it is mathematically impossible, don’t count us out!”