•Police coach Salim Babu, who is masterminding a bank heist, has a fully fit battalion led by captain Musa Mohammed.
•The Policemen are ready to unleash terror on the bankers after top scorer Tito Okello shook off a sheen injury that saw him limp off against Kariobangi Sharks in their 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Image: HANDOUT
With the Kenya Premier League and National Super League now done and dusted, the focus tomorrow turns on the much-waited FKF Cup finals between Police FC and KCB at Dandora Stadium.
Police coach Salim Babu, who is masterminding a bank heist, has a fully fit battalion led by captain Musa Mohammed.
The Policemen are ready to unleash terror on the bankers after top scorer Tito Okello shook off a sheen injury that saw him limp off against Kariobangi Sharks in their 2-2 draw on Sunday.
“We have no suspensions, Tito is back alongside fellow South Sudanese international defender Toha Rashid.
Apart from the two, we have enough depth to handle the final. From the onset, our target was the title and we have our passports ready for the continental showpiece,” said Babu.
Tito, who managed 16 goals in the KPL league— three short of top scorer Benson Omalla of Gor Mahia, will also be chasing the FKF Cup Golden Boot having managed four goals— only a goal behind AFC’s Arthur Gitegi, who has five.
Tito needs at least two goals to beat Gitego who will line up against Kariobangi Sharks in the third-place play-offs on the same day.
Babu said they want to emulate their sisters, Police Bullets, who won the FKF women’s league title, in their maiden season.
“Bullets head coach Belidine Odemba did a good job and we congratulate her. We target reward to our management with a second title within a week,” he noted.
The experienced gaffer has trained well and will be seeking his first domestic title, having lost 2-1 in the Top 8 finals to Gor Mahia while at Sony in 2015, before falling 2-1 to Uganda in the Cecafa U-18 tournament last year.
Meanwhile, KCB coach Bernard Mwalala will be seeking his second domestic title, having led Bandari to the title in 2019. However, he will miss the services of captain Brian ‘Rio’ Ochieng and striker Derrick Otanga who are both suspended.
Rio’s suspension saw Haniff Wesonga recalled from the Cosafa Under-23 squad and he will defend the bank’s safety alongside Maurice Ojwang.
“This is my first season at KCB and reaching the domestic finals is a big step upwards. We will badly miss Otanga and Rio as we expect a tough game against the more experienced cops.
However, football is a 90-minute affair and we can only wait,” said Mwalala. KCB semi-final hero Farouk Shikhalo, who saved two penalties against Sharks in their 4-2 semifinal win after a 1-1 draw, says they will give their best to ensure they win the title.
“I won the title with Bandari in 2019 and with Kakamega Homebody last season. I’m working hard to add the third medal in my closest,” said the experienced Kenyan international.
The match starts at 4 pm and will be curtain-raised by AFC Leopards vs Kariobangi Sharks in the third-place play-offs.
The FKF Cup title comes with Sh2 million prize money and a ticket to represent the country at the Caf Confederations Cup 2024/2025 season.