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KENYA
NIGERIA
Early dissapointment
Tusker started the KPL season pretty badly, judging by their high standards, owing to the fact that they had continental assignments which meant divided attention.
Some of their key players such as captain Joseph Shikokoti , Hillary Echesa and Etubu Imbem were away on trials, they had lost George Midenyo to Gor Mahia and the likes of Patrick Kagogo who had just been signed had not settled well in the team. Good justification for their poor start.
I dare say that if Tusker had started the league with the same mentality as current leaders AFC Leopards, they would be either at par or better off. The other team that had the same predicament is Gor Mahia and we can all see where they are languishing.
But in champion like fashion, after the return of some of the players, the club has managed to climb to a deserved second place in the league standings, where they are lurking in predatory fashion waiting for Leopards to falter.
Complete unit
What makes me think that they will finally get the better of Leopards is the fact that they have one of the best sides in the league and head coach Sammy Omollo knows how to maximise their potential to the fullest.
In Brian Mandela, Shikokoti, Jockins Atudo and Humphrey Okoti, Tusker has arguably the best defence in the league and it is interesting to note that they have never conceded more than two goals in a game this term.
They also offer a potent goal scoring threat especially from Mandela and Shikokoti's aerial dominance and also Atudo's ferocious shots. This makes Tusker very dangerous from set pieces, characteristic of champions all over the world.
Strong midfield
Midfield is very vital to winning games and Tusker's reigns superior in my assessment compared to any other in the league. This is because of the ability of the likes of Jerry Santo, Peter Opiyo and Fredrick Onyango among others to spray balls to the wings and support the attack when going forward and falling back to defend when under siege.
The tactical awareness, character, physical presence, technical and organizational skills of this midfield are also a site to behold.
Paul Were is arguably the fastest rising jewel in local football who has the ability to create chances from seemingly impossible positions thanks to his power, searing pace, ability to whip in crosses, curvey free kicks and a bagful of trick's to boot.
As if that is not enough, in comes the wizard of trickery and football magic of Congolese import Patrick Kagogo. As long as the two are fit, any defence in the league is assured a bad day in office.
With Kagogo and Were marshalling the wings, the likes of Joseph Emeka, Dennis Mukaisi, Obadiah Ndege and Paul Murunga are assured of chances.
To say the least, this squad has been clinical, fantastic and incisive and this perhaps explains why it has the highest number of national team call ups.
Sure title winners
After this careful analysis and the cracks that are finally beginning to show in the AFC Leopards play, i can authoritatively state without fear of being forced to take back my words that at the moment, Ingwe are just custodians of Tuskers rightful place which they will reclaim in a matter of time.
