Police FC’s quest to overturn a 1-0 CAF Confederation Cup defeat by Zamalek of Egypt received a major boost after the return of striker Clinton Kinanga.
The striker missed last week’s first-leg match in Nairobi through injury. He is in contention to lead the attack for the Kenyan Premier League side, who arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday afternoon. The return match is scheduled for Friday evening.
Egypt is a perennially tough hunting ground for Kenyan teams and the Slum Boys, led by coach Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani and his assistant, Salim Babu, have a huge task on their hands.
Tusker were the last Kenyan team to play Zamalek in Cairo on October 22, 2021, where they shipped in four goals in a CAF Champions League preliminary match. They had succumbed 1-0 in the first-leg encounter in Nairobi.
In 2009, Gor Mahia fell to another 4-0 drubbing at the 75,000 Cairo International Stadium in a Caf Confederations Cup group stage second-leg match.
This was at the back of a 4-2 win for K’Ogalo in the opening fixture in Nairobi. Modo who plays his cards close to his heart, hopes for a better outing, after sharpening his boys in training.
“Football is never decided in the first leg. We will be hoping for a better game as we target victory. Against Ethiopia Coffee, we went to Addis (Ababa) with a barren draw and came back with a win. We just need to capitalise on our chances and we are home,” he said.
Police FC chairman Nyale Munga is not only dreaming of beating Zamalek but is also confident of winning the Continental crown for the first time of asking.
“I think we were the better side in the opening leg. They were just lucky we didn’t convert our chances,” said Nyale.
Munga, the Commandant National Police College — Main Campus, Kiganjo, says they have prepared their team well in terms of motivation, mental and financial and they will come back victorious.
“Once we beat them in Cairo on Friday, we will lift the title, no team can stand on our way,” said Nyale.
Police will count on the experience of captain Musa Mohammed, who previously played in Egypt with Gor Mahia, South Sudan’s Toha Rashid, Aboud Omar and Baraka Badi to shield goalkeeper Patrick Matasi.
In midfield Francis Kahata, who was in the Gor Mahia team which fell to Zamalek, leads the likes of Marvin Nabwire, South Sudan international Charles Ouma, Jackson Macharia and Jaffari Owiti.
In addition to Kinanga, Modo will have the luxury of calling upon Jesse Were, David Okoth and Alfred Leku to trouble goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi sweat, especially after misfiring at Nyayo Stadium.
As Police target a successful debut Zamalek are the defending champions and have won five Champions League and three Confederation Cup.
