Tusker's seamless travel a fresh breath to otherwise chaotic scenes known to Kenyan sports

For a long time in the country, especially in Kenyan football, fans have been accustomed to players sleeping in airports, teams unable to cater for their away tickets and managements reduced to high end beggars in order for the teams to honour their fixtures in the demanding continental CAF Champions League and Conferedations Cup exploits.

For the last four years, record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have had the envious task of bearing the country’s flag in the prestigious continental tourneys. Despite the club’s stature, not much has always been left to envy in terms of the team preparedness.

Just last year, when Gor were to travel to take on Napsa Stars in their second leg Confederation Cup final qualification match, same old pitiful organization saw K’Ogalo arrive in Zambia two hours prior to the crucial clash only after late intervention from former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi ‘Sonko’ who purchased the travelling team’s air ticket. That is just but one example that is not news anymore.

This year however, Kenya’s representative to the 2022 CAF Champions League Tusker FC are offering a slight glimmer of hope, at least off the pitch. In what is the team’s first continental since 2017, the Brewers have already outdone Gor in the preparation front.

On Wednesday morning, four days ahead of their first round preliminary clash against Djibouti’s league champions, AS Arta Solar 7, that takes place on Sunday 12, the first batch of players and officials left Nairobi for the away fixture in Djibouti with the second batch expected to depart later on the same day. Four days!

Despite having a relatively new squad that may take some time before gelling and understanding each other on the pitch, – something that is out of their control – at least Tusker is getting the basics right.

Despite Arta Solar boasting of UEFA Champions League experience with former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Alex Song, former West Ham United forward Diafra Sakho and Carlos Kameni a major part of their squad, at least the Tusker boys will emerge from the tunnels knowing very well that they got the first step to success –preparation – right.

Tusker FC travelling squad to face Arta Solar

Clyde Senaji, Teddy Osok, Humphrey Mieno, Charles Momanyi, Jimmy Mbugua, Patrick Matasi, Jackson Macharia, Shami Mwinyi, Boniface Muchiri, Daniel Sakari, Hillary Wandera, Brian Bwire, Kevin Monyi, Joshua Ibrahim, Apollo Otieno, Kalos Kirenge, Emery Mvuyekure, John Njuguna, Eugene Asike.