Shauri Moyo Blue Stars cross the swords with Jericho All Star in the East conference semi-final of the SportPesa Super 8 Champions League in what is anticipated to be an explosive battle of the galaxy that will be staged at City Stadium on Sunday 30 0ctober from 3:00 Pm.
At the same time in another semi-final, West conference heavyweights Technical University of Kenya (TUK) will be aiming to get past Meltah Kabiria for a chance to represent the conference in the finals next month.
Shauri Moyo Blue Stars Vs Jericho All Stars
Jericho All Stars hunger for the SportPesa Super 8 Champions League will be put to a strong test as their chances of securing a title before the year wraps up will solely depend on whether they can down fellow East conference fierce rivals Shauri Moyo Blue Stars in the heated inaugural championship that has been well received by local fans.
Jericho are brimmed with confidence after making a statement by knocking out bitter rivals and newly-crowned Sps8 Premier League champions Kayole Asubuhi out of the tournament in the quarters on Sunday to send the massive crowed at the City Stadium into frenzy.
It was a sweet victory for Jericho after Kayole humiliated them in similar conditions at the same venue a few weeks ago and they will be looking to replicate such heroics when they meet Kamukunji bigwigs Blue Stars in what is poised to be a thriller.
And Jericho All Stars Team Manager Erick Agwanda is highly optimistic that the Makadara based club will make it to the finals next month saying they are well prepared to tackle Blue Stars but conceded that it will not be a stroll in the park.
“We played well (against Kayole Asubuhi) and the fact that we beat them it has really given the team the morale and motivation to even do better. Shauri Moyo beat us at home in the league and we learnt from our mistakes and we will be aiming beat them this time, we know it will not be easy because they want to win as much as we do but we are preparing well because our goal is to make it to the finals and possibly win the tournament.” Agwanda remarked.
Rodgers Khakuti coached Blue Stars have a spotless record against the Jericho. As a matter of fact, they beat them 1-0 at their own back yard at Camp Toyoyo back in July in the return leg of the Sps8 League after playing to a 1-1 draw when they first met this year in the opening leg of the competition.
Buoyed by the head to head record against Jericho, coach Khakuti is upbeat that his side can beat their opponents for the second time this year insisting they will use same strategy to approach Sunday’s game.
“Jericho is a strong side but we are preparing well for the match. Even though we beat them once it will be a tough match and am very much confident that we can do it again.” Coach Khakuti who is a former Gor Mahia man said.
For their place in the semis, Blue Stars outwitted Metro Sports 4-3 in after match penalty shoot-out last weekend and head into the game as pre-match favorites despite finishing the Sps8 League fourth, two places adrift of Jericho who missed on the league title by a slim margin.
Melta Kabiria Vs TUK
After registering morale boosting 3-1 win over hapless Ajax FC in the quarters, Meltah kabiria have a tricky clash with TUK.
The two teams have previously clashed twice in the Sps8 Premier League and the first time they met, TUK went home bruised after a 2-1 away loss to Kabiria at BP grounds, a result that halted their impressive seven match unbeaten run in the competition back in early May this year. And despite being 4-1 winners earlier in the second leg, TUK will be aiming for vengeance for their earlier defeat as they seek to set their Sps8 Champions League title quest on distinctive path with a possible win over unpredictable Kabiria.
TUK coach Lukas Aluoch has said that he is approaching this game with extra caution and warned his charges not to underrate their opponents.
He said: “It is a very delicate match for us, the players have been on a short school holiday before the Champions League and they have trying to get their minds in correct frame for the competition but they are willing to go an extra mile to see that we win it. They (Meltah) are not just any other team, they are good and we are taking this match with the seriousness it deserves.”
A 3-1 triumph over Kawangware United last weekend handed TUK an easy pass to the last four in the competition.
Meltah on the other hand will need to sermon all their might and strength in order to eliminate the university students from the competition and progress to the semis. Meltah finished the league 8th with 46 points while TUK settled for 3rd with 60 points.
SPS8 SEMI FINAL FIXTURES: SUN 30 OCTOBER
Meltah Kabiria Vs TUK 1:00 PM
Shauri Moyo Blue Stars Vs Jericho All Stars 3:00 PM
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