“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”, this famous line from legendary Manchester United coach Sir. Alex Ferguson is still a subject of debate years after he retired from the game. In essence, the former United boss was highlighting the importance of having a close-knit backline when fighting for titles.Back home, league leaders, Tusker FC are learning how a porous backline can derail a team’s title charge. A good forward line can easily be neutralized by a leaky and shaky defense.On Sunday against KCB, goalkeeper Robert Mboya made a calamitous error that resulted in KCB’s second goal. The striker tried to dribble past Derrick Otanga only for the striker to body him and fire into an empty net, it was just one of the many errors from Tusker keepers at the defenders this seasonFULL TIME IN THIKA.What a fight from the boys. We take a point away from home. pic.twitter.com/8jPatOTFfQ— Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) July 11, 2021 With 43 league goals to their name, Tusker are the top-scoring side in the league. They have in fact scored more than four times the goals Vihiga United have, however, their backline is not as promising as they have shipped in 21 goals with a good number of goals coming from individual errors.We take a look at some costly errors committed by the Brewers defenders.AFC Leopards 2-1 Tusker FCThe series of errors started on the opening day of the season at Kasarani. With the game tied at 1-1, Eugene Asike needlessly went down in an attempt to stop a Leopards attack and in the process handled the ball in the area, a penalty was awarded from which Elvis Rupia scored the winning goal for Ingwe.Tusker 1-1 SofapakaThe next match was between the Brewers and Batoto ba Mungu in January. Tusker went behind in the opening stages of the game through an Elly Asieche strike, it’s however a goal that should have been avoided had Mboya got a firm punch on a Titus Achesa cross from the left.Posta Rangers 1-4 TuskerThe Brewers got a huge win in what was coach Stanley Okumbi’s first game as Posta Rangers coach. The goal conceded however was from a defensive error. Christopher Oruchum was at fault this time, failing to clear a delivery from midfield and Ezekiel Okare capitalized to score the leveler before Tusker scored three more.📽️⚽️| Here are our two goals by Hum Mieno and Jackson Macharia. Great comeback, great team effort.#KenyaMilele #Brewers4Life pic.twitter.com/Q51YDUZkjj— Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) July 11, 2021 Bidco United 2-1 Tusker FCWith the game tied at 1-1 in stoppage time, Bidco broke forward in lighting speed in search of a winning goal which they got through Batt’s Awita. What looked like a harmless cross from the former Nzoia Sugar man found its way into the back of the net after Tusker keeper Michael Wanjala failed to cover his near post.Wazito C 1-1 Tusker FCWith Tusker FC leading and in total control of the game, the Brewers gifted Wazito FC the leveler goalkeeper. Emery Mvuyekure failed to hold onto a delivery from midfield and Kevin Kimani capitalized to earn Wazito a point. Coincidentally he has never featured for the team since then.Tusker 0-1 Posta RangersWith the game seemingly destined for a barren draw, the Mail-men won it courtesy of a Rodgers Aloro error. The defender attempted to clever instead of going to a simple clearance, and the lightning-quick Josphat Lopaga robbed the ball off him before beating Wanjala to earn Posta all the three points.KCB 2-2 Tusker FCAnother match another error. On Sunday Mboya’s attempt to dribble past Otanga saw him robbed off the ball before the striker doubled KCB’s lead.After the latest error, coach Matano made his feelings clearly known in his post-match interview.“Wanjala got an injury and Mboya is a senior player, I told him that those are jokes. Such kind of mistakes kill the spirit of the team but we planned to fight until the last minute,” he said.With the team set to play in the CAF Champions League next season, coach Matano will definitely consider beefing up his rearguard.
