Africa-Press – Kenya. Mara Sugar head coach Edward Manoah has declared his side ready for their rescheduled Kenyan Premier League clash against Nairobi United, insisting the short break has given his players valuable time to regroup and sharpen up ahead of tomorrow’s showdown at Kericho Green Stadium.
The match, initially scheduled for last weekend, was postponed due to Nairobi United’s CAF assignment, forcing a slight adjustment to the domestic calendar. But Manoah says the disruption has not unsettled his squad — if anything, it has strengthened their focus.
Rather than viewing the postponement as an inconvenience, the tactician sees it as an opportunity to fine-tune key areas that need improvement.
“We have used these extra days very well,” Manoah explained. “Sometimes, in a tight schedule, you don’t get enough time to correct small mistakes. Now we’ve had the chance to slow things down, look at our structure, and work on specific details.”
Mara Sugar have shown flashes of promise this season but have struggled for consistency in certain matches. Manoah believes the break allows his players to reset mentally and physically.
“I told the boys to treat the postponement like a mini pre-season,” he said. “It’s not about relaxing — it’s about sharpening. We worked on fitness, we worked on transitions, and we worked on our finishing because those are the margins that decide games.”
Facing Nairobi United presents a significant test. The visitors have balanced domestic commitments with continental football, and Manoah expects a competitive encounter.
“Nairobi United are a strong side, especially when they come off continental matches,” Manoah observed. “They play with intensity and confidence. We respect them, but we are playing at home, and we also have our ambitions.”
Kericho Green Stadium has increasingly become a fortress for Mara Sugar, and the coach is counting on home support to make a difference. “At Kericho, we must impose ourselves,” Manoah said firmly. “Our supporters give us energy, and the players understand the responsibility of defending our ground. We cannot afford to be passive.”
He emphasised that preparation has not just been physical but also tactical. “We’ve studied their patterns,” he revealed. “We know how they build from the back and how they try to stretch the game wide. The key for us is discipline — staying compact and choosing the right moments to press.”
Manoah was keen to stress that the postponement should not be seen as an advantage or disadvantage, but rather as part of the demands of modern football. “This is professional football,” he said. “Fixtures change, circumstances change. What matters is how you adapt. I told my players not to complain about timing but to focus on readiness.”
The coach also highlighted the importance of squad depth during such schedule adjustments. “The break has allowed us to recover a few knocks,” Manoah noted. “Some players were carrying minor issues, and now they’ve had time to heal properly. That gives us more options going into Wednesday.”
Despite Nairobi United’s continental distractions, Manoah refuses to assume fatigue will work in his favour.
“We cannot expect them to come tired or distracted,” he cautioned. “Teams playing in CAF competitions are used to managing their energy. If we think they will be weak, we will be surprised.”
Instead, his message to his players has been clear: control what you can control.
“Our focus is on our performance,” he said. “If we execute our game plan with intensity and discipline, we give ourselves a strong chance. But if we switch off even for a few minutes, we will be punished.”
Manoah also challenged his attacking players to be more clinical in front of the goal. “We’ve created chances in recent matches but haven’t always converted,” he admitted. “On Wednesday, efficiency will be crucial. Against a team like Nairobi United, you might only get two or three clear chances — you must take them.”
Defensively, he wants concentration from the first whistle to the last. “I’ve reminded the defenders that clean sheets win points,” Manoah said. “Organisation, communication, and commitment — those are non-negotiable.”
With the league table tightening and every point carrying added weight, Manoah understands the significance of the encounter. “This is not just another fixture,” he said. “Every match at this stage of the season matters. We want to climb, and to climb you must win at home.”
He concluded by reiterating that the postponement has not disrupted his team’s rhythm. “We keep working and preparing,” Manoah repeated. “The four-day break was not a holiday; it was an opportunity. Now it’s about showing that work on the pitch.”
Ahead of tomorrow, Mara Sugar will look to translate preparation into performance — and if their coach’s confidence is any indicator, they intend to make Kericho Green Stadium a difficult place for Nairobi United to leave with points.
