Police FC optimistic as champions Zamalek come calling

Kenya Police FC face Egyptian giants Zamalek in the Confederations Cup second-round knockout stage on Saturday at 3 pm at Nyayo Stadium with the group stage ticket at stake.

Police are making their continental debut while Zamalek, who are the defending champions, will be chasing their third title.

Head coach Antony “Modo” Kimani who beat Ethiopian Coffe 1-0 last month to move to the next stage, will be hoping his boys arise to the occasion.

Goalkeepers Patrick Matasi, Aboud Omar, and Kenneth Muguna were with Harambee stars in South Africa.  Charles Ouma and Toha Rashid were with the South Sudan national team and are expected to link with the team tomorrow.

Modo confirmed Muguna is still suspended from the continental clash, while Brain Musa is out with an ankle injury suffered during the first leg against the Ethiopians.

Midfielder David Owino is also out for around three months after undergoing a knee injury.

Modo, however, remained tight-lipped on his game plan against the African giants, but Matasi, Aboud, and Toha Rashid are believed to be in his match-day plans.

“We have trained well, and all my players are in good shape, save for  Brian and Owino, who are out injured. We expect a tough game, but we are ready to face the defending champions," Modo said.

Police will depend on the experienced former Gor Mahia captains Musa Mohammed and Francis Kahata who have faced the Northern Africans on numerous occasions with K'Ogallo

Police team manager Godfrey Chomba confirmed the head of the White Knights delegation arrived in the country on Monday to oversee the team's logistics ahead.

According to Chomba, Zamalek is set to arrive in the country at 4.30 am Thursday. Chomba will be at the airport at 4.15 am to pick up his guests, who are scheduled to have a training session at Police Sacco grounds at 3 pm, before having a feel of Nyayo Stadium on Friday at 3 pm.

Chomba was also sweating to ensure the referees from Zambia, the match assessor from DRC, and the match commissar from Somalia all have their logistics taken care of once they arrive in Nairobi this evening.

The National Soccer Team Harambee Stars players also had a delay at the Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, and had their flight rescheduled to 8.45 pm after the noon KQ flight to Nairobi failed to take off due to the ongoing strike at JKIA. The team is expected to land at JKIA past midnight

Ahead of the Police's biggest match in their calendar, they remain optimistic against the defending champions, drawing inspiration from February 2019, when KPL champions Gor Mahia overcame the White Knights 4-2, en route to the CAF Confederations quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia will be in action against another Egyptian giant, Al Ahly, in the CAF Champions League second-round knockout on Sunday at 3 pm at Nyayo Stadium.