Each KPL game now a final for Situma and Tusker

Tusker FC captain James Situma has called on his teammates to treat each match as a final in order to save their fast fading Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title defence bid.

Tusker who finished their title-winning campaign last year holding a seven-point lead over their closest challenger, Gor Mahia FC, find themselves trailing the same opposition by 14 points with 13 rounds left to play.

Spirits are low at the Brewers’ camp with the side having already been knocked out of the GOtv Shield, losing 2-0 to second-tier side Vihiga United in a shock quarterfinal result that left their dreams of a league and Cup double in tatters.

Tusker will now hand over the Shield they won last year and the same could happen to their KPL title but Situma maintains it is all just bad luck.

“Our main challenge is only that sometimes things may not be working for you but there is nothing wrong. I think we started badly then we picked up very well before the break which slowed us but we believe we shall rise again.

“I can’t put the blame on tactics because there is a time that we went eight matches unbeaten with the same players and coaches,” the center half told Citizen Digital.

The champions have won six out of a possible 24 points from their last eight league matches with their last win coming at home to Western Stima on August 17. They have not won any other league fixture since May.

“We would not have wanted to be where we are right now because we are used to being at the top. I can’t say that we are affected by any pressure because even last season when we won the double we had a lot of pressure and we’ve always known how to handle it.

“Everything is possible,” Situma stated.

Tusker head to the Awendo Stadium on Sunday seeking a potentially morale-boosting win against Sony Sugar FC as they bid to get their chase of a 12th league title back on track.

“This league is so competitive so you never know. The trick is to try and win all your games. Take for instance the fact that there are only five points between us and Posta Rangers who are third.

“It is important that we start winning.”