Why Sempala has been missing in action at Tusker

Tusker captain Hashim Sempala has come out to explain why he was uncharacteristically overlooked in the last two club assignments.

The defensive midfielder missed their last weekend 4-0 win over Vihiga United at the Mumias Sports Complex and further was unavailable when the club thumped the Nyeri based Marafiki United 4-1 in an FKF Cup round of 32 match staged at the Kinungi grounds. 

The Ugandan national revealed that the technical bench excused him from the two duels as a way of relieving him from fatigue and to pave way for the other midfielders who had been deprived of playing time. 

"My absence in the last two matches should not be cause for worry to the Tusker fans. The technical bench probably felt I had played many matches and decided to give me a rest. My unavailability also gave other players playing time," he said. 

Sempala who hailed his assistant Eugene Asike for skippering the team to the two crucial wins disclosed that he was looking forward to be reintegrated in the starting team when they face Luanda Villa in the round of 16 match in Nairobi. 

"I thank my assistant and the rest of the team for registering the big wins while I was away. I am ready to be selected when we play our next match this weekend," he said. 

The hard-tackling midfielder who was part of the dreaded 2016 squad which claimed a double in the meantime reiterated his dream of helping the Ruaraka based club replicate the same this season. 

Tusker who by then were under the tutelage of Paul Nkata won the league and the Cup in 2016 and are among the favourites to claim the two titles this season if their form and quality of the squad is anything to go by. 

"Our ambition is to win the two titles this season and play continental matches. The players understand the task at hand and are working hard to deliver the silverware," he added.