Bandari arrive in city for CAF Confederation Cup

Bandari FC players line-up against El Ahly Shandy FC during their first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup match at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on August 10. [Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com]

Kenyan representatives in the CAF Confederations Cup, Bandari will camp in Nairobi for four days ahead of their Sunday’s match against Tunisian side US Ben Guerdane.

The two sides clash on Sunday at Kasarani in the first round of the CAF Confederations Cup in a match Bandari will be looking to win and better their chances of advancing to the group stages.

The dockers knocked Sudanese side Al Ahly Shandy out on away goals rule in the preliminary round following a 1-1 draw at the Shandi Stadium in Sudan in the second leg. The first leg played on August 10 in Kasarani ended in a barren draw.

The winner between Bandari and Guerdane on aggregate will advance to the playoff round, whose aggregate winner will proceed to the competitions group stages

Bandari’s Team manager Wilson Oburu confirmed yesterday in Mombasa that the team will arrive in Nairobi today. The return match is set for Tunis on September 27.

“We are taking this clash seriously and we shall not be pushovers. We know our opponents are strong but our focus is to win the Sunday match to gain an added advantage in the return leg,” said Oburu.

Bandari are banking on the experience of finishing second in the Kenyan Premier League last season and a SportPesa Shield title to go toe-to-toe with the Tunisian side.

Bandari team is intact despite losing their top goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo who has since joined Tanzanian Premier League giants Yanga. The dockers have also parted ways with midfielder Michael Luvutsi who has since joined Posta Rangers.

Coach Bernard Mwalala, however, believes he has a physically fit battalion, which is capable of beating the Tunisian team.

Bandari’s new signings; goalkeeper Justin Ndikumana and Cliff Kasuti both from Sofapaka, Alex Lughanji (Nairobi Stima) and Zoo Kericho’s Danson Namasaka have fitted well in the team and played a big role in knocking out the Sudanese side in the preliminary round.

Mwalala has new faces in his stable such as Abdallah Hassan, Benjamin Mosha, Moses Mudavadi and Brian Otieno, who was handed a call up in the national team last week.

Mwalala will blend both the new signings with experienced players including captain Felly Mulumba, William Wardi, Wycliffe Ochomo, David King’atua, Dan Otewa, Fred Nkata and Siraj Mohammed.