CL pain will inspire Tusker domestic gain-Situma

Tusker FC Captain James Situma hopes the pain of their premature exit from the CAF Champions League will spur them on to domestic success when they begin their defence of the league and GOtv Shield titles.

The Brewers let slip a 2-1 aggregate lead over AS Port Louis 2000 with less than 10 minutes to go as Ivorian Ephrem Guikan hit a late double to send the Kenyan champions crashing out of the premier continental competition at the first hurdle.

Their latest flop on the continental scene attracted fierce criticism back home, with Tusker literally sneaking back to Nairobi on Tuesday, but Situma is adamant the team has put behind the disappointment to focus on the rest of their 2017 season.

“We learned our lessons and now it’s up to us to pull ourselves together and strive to do better next time,” Situma told Citizen Digital.

Situma who was selected to skipper the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) All-Star squad that will play English Premier League side Hull City in the UK on Monday also called for a quick resolution to the stalemate that has delayed the kick-off of the domestic leagues.

“We urge Football Kenya Federation and the Kenyan Premier League to find a prompt solution because players are eager show what they have been during their pre-season and that can only happen if they play competitive in competitive matches,” Situma who departed the country on Wednesday for Hull added.

The veteran defender warned that an atmosphere of uncertainty that has built up as a result of the standoff is a ‘morale killer’ for KPL players.

Tusker teammates, Allan Wanga (striker) and David Okello (keeper) are also in the All Star team with the trio missing their 0-0 stalemate against promoted side Kariobangi Sharks on Sunday.

On the other hand, he promised the KPL All-Stars would give their best against Hull.

“This is one of the many ways that will help in the growth of football in the country. There will be many scouts who will be watching the game and as ambassadors of the country we promise to sell the image of our football abroad.

“We need to see more of our local players playing for the big leagues broad and such an opportunity is a chance that needs to be taken seriously because it happens once in a lifetime,” he stated.