By Agnes Amondi,
For a team that went close to challenge for the league title and still remains within touching distance of accomplishing the feat, it goes without say that Gaspo Women will be prepared to break sweat once more and possibly come out of Vihiga Queens’ shadow to lift the crown.
As obvious as that reads, the clubs’ head coach Isaac Maluki was coy in his assessment as to whether they’ll have the midas touch that’ll shift things in their favour this time around.
Gaspo finished nine points behind serial winners Vihiga Queens.
“Nothing is impossible,” said the tactician, “We will take it a game at a time and see how things pan out,” he continued.
The march towards the gong begins with the much anticipated tie against Thika Queens famously dubbed “Kiambu derby” at the Ruiru grounds.
The second leg of this game dented Gaspo’s title hopes last time out, when Thika forced a 2-2 draw at the Thika Stadium to all but hand Vihiga Queens a third title.
But the gaffer isn’t looking back at these misfortunes as he stated that “new seeds will bloom in their coming games including the upcoming blockbuster.”
Whilst at it, he reckoned the goal scoring ability of both sides that contributed to past results.
That not withstanding, he acknowledged the importance of the opening league fixture as possibly the match that sets up the team for the entire season in terms of morale boost.
“First Matches are very vital if you win, it boost’s team morale and enhances our focus as we approach the next games,” he observed.
As for the competition his charges will have to fend off, he explained that “we have learnt our lessons,” after they lost up to seven points against fellow title rivals.
He brushed off talk of affording these specific games ‘special attention’ in order to accumulate the necessary points tally for cliniching the championship.
“It was hard against most of the so called big teams. We learned our lessons. Games are unpredictable and so we are working on our lessons going forward. However, we are not focusing on certain games, but the league as a whole,” said Maluki.
Meanwhile, the head coach wasn’t forthcoming when asked about changes in the team with regards to the transfer market. However, on how the expected changes will impact the dynamics of the team, he quickly pointed out that:
“Teams develop players, acquire players and release players. Thus, talents win games but team work, intelligence and enthusiasm wins championships and that is what we are working on,”
He went on: “No matter how difficult and distrucing pre- seasons are our job is to work through it, keep our eyes and efforts where they belong. I am satisfied on what we are doing and eagerly await for KWPL kick off.” he opined.
