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Tusker thirst for continental glory as Caf increases prize money

By DAVID KWALIMWA November 10th, 2016 2 min read

Tusker FC CEO Charles Obiny says the club will seek to extend their local dominance onto the continental front next year.

The top flight club completed a league and cup double this past week at the expense of bigwigs Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Ulinzi Stars and Mathare United.

Besides the bragging rights of scooping an eleventh league title, this success has also earned the East African Breweries Limited bankrolled outfit the rights to compete in the Caf Champions League tournament.

The Champions League is a competition contested by African clubs that have won their respective league titles.

In next year’s tournament for instance, Tusker will compete against the likes of Tunisia’s Esperance, Zamalek (Egypt), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Coton Sport (Cameroon), Al Merreikh (Sudan), AC Leopards (Congo), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) Sewe Sport (Mali) and Enugu Rangers (Nigeria).

INCREASED PRIZE MONEY

The lure of continental football will also offer Tusker a chance to make good money following and announcement by the Confederation of African Football that the prize money for the winning team in the Champions League has been increased by 66 percent to Sh 250 million.

Tusker could also earn atleast Sh 47 million if they make it to the group stages of the competition – a feat considered feasible by the club.

“To be honest with you, we have been approaching the continental games casually. But this time round we will be ready. There is need to strengthen the team and start our preparations early. We are motivated by the incentives,” Obiny said.

Kenyan clubs have consistently struggled to compete on the continental front. Tusker FC however boast a rich history, having made it to the final of the then Mandela Cup (now known as the Confederation Cup) in 1994, only to lose heavily to DRC’s Daring Club Motema Pembe.