Tusker defender blames home ground for disappointing season start

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FKFPL Tusker defender blames home ground for disappointing season start

Mark Kinyanjui 14:00 - 17.02.2024

Kibwage believes Ruaraka's poor playing surface contrubuted lot to their failiure to produce good results in the first half of the season.

Tusker defender Mike Kibwage has blamed Tusker’s indifferent run of form particularly in the first half of the league season on the dilapidated state of the Ruaraka Grounds.

The Brewers had failed to win any of the games that they played in Ruaraka this season, w=only registering a couple of draws while on the ground, but made the decision to take their home matches to the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, where they have since enjoyed a good run of form.

Now, Kibwage is adamant that the reason they had to endure such a bad run of form in the first leg was mostly down to the state of the pitch.

“If you look at the pitch, the surface is not very ideal and it leads to us losing games,” Kibwage told KTN News.

“If you look at all the games that we have played here, this season, we haven’t won even one. The best result we have gotten is a draw.”

Kibwage also says the relatively small state of the pitch means it has been difficult to execute their new game plan of dominating possession and exploiting gaps in counter-attacking situations, the latter style a classic Robert Matano preferred set up.

“Also, if you look at the size, it is small and the surface in itself is not big.”

Meanwhile, Kibwage is optimistic that Tusker will do well against KCB in Machakos, especially considering they brushed them aside 5-0 only three weeks ago.

“Training has been good, and even if you look at the mood and morale in the camp, it is very ideal,” added Kibwage.

“We are grateful to have gotten all three points in our last match (against FC Shabana), so that is enough confidence.”

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Their win over Shabana propelled them to fourth in the FKF Premier League standings, amassing 34 points from 21 games and narrowing the gap to the table leader, Gor Mahia, to ten points.