Games and Sports
Shabana Must Win On Sunday
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 07 July 2007 09:07
The popular Kisii club faces a daunting task of cancelling a 2-0 deficit following their first round loss in Port Sudan a fortnight ago.The Sudanese, who arrived in the country on Tuesday afternoon with seven internationals in their line-up, need only a draw to advance to the second round. Shabana, who last weekend travelled to western Kenya where they defeated Nzoia Sugar 2-0 in a Tusker Zone Premier League match, showed their potential.
The club, which is making its second appearance in the continental championship after a 12-years absence, has been camping in Nakuru for the big match. They first featured in the same tournament in 1988 where they were bundled 4-1 on aggregate by Zambian club Kabwe Warriors.
The new-look Shabana have crop of new players but apart from striker Robinson Makhoha and player-cum-deputy coach Rashid Omar, who have in the past participated in similar tournaments, the rest of the players have little experience and are making their first appearance in top flight African club soccer.
But Jacobsen is not at all worried. Speaking to the Nation at their Afraha Stadium training ground yesterday, he said: "After having seen our opponents in action in the first round, I have now devised new tactics and I am sure that if the boys play according to my instructions, the Sudanese fate will be decided on Sunday."
But Shabana will not underrate their opponents whom Jacobsen believes have superior ball control and speed."Hay Al Arab are fast on the ball and this means we must be very careful not to concede any goal in the opening stages of the match as that will put us in a very precarious position," said Jacobsen.
"The solution is to play a hard game and make sure we destroy their midfield so that they will have no room to create dangerous chances in our goal area."
Shabana will bank their hopes for goals on striker Robinson Makhoha who turned out for Eldoret FC, formerly Rivatex, last season, Dennis Okangi and Geoffrey Okoth.
Midfielders Ismail Abdul and Peter Kakonge, who missed the first leg match in Port Sudan because the immigration department delayed in processing their travel documents, are expected to play a crucial role in the return match on Sunday.
The rest of the team will be named from; goalkeepers - Jack Gatheru, Robert Obare, Alfred Misati; defenders - Anthony Waweru, Sammy Opwapo (captain), Dennis Hosea, Chrispin Baraza, Anthony Luziki, Japheth Kenyatta; midfielders - Bernard Kitolo, George Osama, Charles Otieno, Daniel Sakwa.
