John Baraza itching to open up title race with monumental win over Gor Mahia

FKFPL John Baraza itching to open up title race with monumental win over Gor Mahia

Mark Kinyanjui 17:31 - 08.03.2024

Bandari coach John Baraza hopes to close the gap on Gor Mahia with a win over the 20-time league champions.

Bandari head coach John Baraza is gearing up for a crucial encounter against Gor Mahia at the Mbaraki Grounds this Saturday, with his sights set on the ultimate prize of potentially winning the title.

Currently positioned third with 40 points, Bandari is 10 points behind league leaders Gor Mahia after 22 games. Baraza sees the upcoming match as an opportunity to narrow the gap to just seven points, thereby intensifying the race for the title. Tusker, Kenya Police, and Nairobi City Stars are also hot on their pursuit.

"If we can get a win against the league leaders who are also the defending champions, it will be better for us as we rush to reduce the gap between us and them,” Baraza expressed in an interview with Citizen TV.

Acknowledging the significance of the fixture, Baraza emphasized the importance of securing maximum points against a formidable opponent like Gor Mahia. He highlighted the potential impact on their standings in the league and the ensuing competition for the title.

"We had a great week of preparing for this match, and it's good that we didn't encounter any injury during the week, apart from the players who had been sidelined before. I urge our fans to show up in large numbers and push our boys to go for maximum points," Baraza added.

Optimistic about the growing support for Bandari, Baraza aims to build a fanbase that can rival Gor Mahia's dedicated following. He sees the match as an opportunity for Bandari's fans to demonstrate their loyalty and create an atmosphere similar to what Gor Mahia experiences with their strong fan base.

“Our brothers Gor Mahia have a strong fan base, and fans normally travel with their team in all parts of the country, which adds something to them whether playing home or away. I’m happy we are slowly going in that direction, and this is a good opportunity for our fans to show their loyalty to the team," urged the former Harambee Stars striker.

As the weekend showdown approaches, both teams are gearing up for a high-stakes clash, and Baraza is optimistic about Bandari's chances of making a significant impact in the title race.

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