With the ticket to the CAF Champions League out of reach, AFC Leopards will turn their focus to increasing their chances of winning the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF PL) title when they play a wobbling Kariobangi Sharks on Wednesday at the Thika Sub County Stadium.The rights to represent the country in the top drawer continental inter club tournament will be clinched by either KCB or log leaders Tusker who have locked the rest out the race and are scheduled to take on Nzoia Sugar and Ulinzi Stars respectively. Despite watching their hopes of returning to the Champions League slip through their hands, Ingwe who trail Tusker by four points have a chance to toast the silverware at the end of the season as there are more than ten rounds remaining in the campaign. Patrick Aussems charges warmed for the Sharks with a 2-1 win over Wazito in their last fixture and will head to Thika hoping to complete a double over their opponents whom they floored 2-0 in the first leg.UP NEXT @Betsafe_KE #OursForever #INGWE pic.twitter.com/IAl0hAcz1g— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) June 29, 2021 The club’s assistant coach Tom Juma says the team will not only be eyeing the three points but to warm for the Football Kenya Federation Cup final against their sworn rivals slated for this weekend. The former Kenyan international who regretted over the absence of the experienced Collins Shivachi and a handful of senior players who will be on the treatment table for long said the match will give his boss the chance to asses the boys ahead of the Mashemeji Derby.”It is going to be a good match for the technical bench to see what need to be fine tuned as the final is days away. We need to warm up for the big match with a win against Sharks which will also be a positive step as far as fighting for the league is concerned. We have a fresh injury concern in Shivachi but the rest bar the long term cases are available for selection,” said the former midfielder.Sharks on the hand will be gunning to end their five match losing streak which the club’s captain Eric Juma attributed to injuries.Final preparations done ahead of tomorrow’s game against @AFCLeopards #WeAreSharks #BetwaySharks pic.twitter.com/3ByWDXr0Tw— Kariobangi Sharks FC (@k_sharksfc) June 29, 2021 The former Cup holders who were in contention for the Champions League rights have plummeted to seventh with 31 points following the five successive defeats.However, Eric Juma believes that they stand a chance to upset Leopards despite the odds being stacked in favor of the latter.”We have to win today’s match at all costs. We can not afford to give excuses any more. The players want to redeem themselves after losing five consecutive matches. Injuries had reduced us to a punching bag but we are lucky to have senior players who were injured back. While they were sidelined, the rookies who were given a chance gave their best and will inject the much needed competition for playing time in the squad, ” he said.
