Tusker FC forward Erick Kapaito has confirmed he is fully fit and ready to feature when the Brewers host Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie this Sunday.
Kapaito missed Tusker’s FKF Super Cup clash against Gor Mahia due to injury but has since returned to action, coming off the bench in the Brewers’ recent matches against Al Ahli Wad Madani and Ulinzi Stars.
The forward made his comeback in Tusker’s CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round second leg against Al Ahli Wad Madani on September 12, replacing Victor Mbaoma in the second half. Tusker won the match 1-0 courtesy of Chris Erambo’s 62nd-minute strike to progress 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw in the first leg.
Kapaito was also introduced in the second half of Tusker’s 2-0 victory over Ulinzi Stars over the weekend, giving him more playing time as he worked towards regaining full match fitness.
With the Singida Black Stars encounter approaching, the experienced attacker says he has recovered fully and is looking forward to representing the club in the continental competition.
“It’s a great feeling, you know. Coming from an injury is not an easy task because you have to work really hard to be fully fit. But for now, I am doing well. I am okay, I am 100% fit,” Kapaito said.
“Playing in the CAF Confederations Cup is a very important thing in a footballer’s career, so playing against Singida Black Stars, I believe, is a good thing. I am ready to represent the team well.”
The former Kariobangi Sharks forward will be hoping to play a bigger role against the Tanzanian side as Tusker seek an advantage ahead of the return leg. His experience could prove important as the Brewers look to navigate a difficult two-legged contest.
Kapaito, however, is aware of the pressure that comes with playing in such matches. He says the responsibility of representing both the club and its supporters is always present, but believes experience has taught him how to handle the demands.
“There’s always pressure because you know you have to represent the team, you have to represent the fans. But the good thing is knowing how to manage the pressure, and with the experience I have, I know how to manage it,” he added.
The forward also believes Tusker must remain focused throughout Sunday’s encounter if they are to secure a positive result at home.
The Brewers will draw confidence from their 2-0 league victory over Ulinzi Stars, with Kapaito noting that the result has lifted the team’s morale ahead of the continental assignment.
“The first thing we need to do is concentration. We’ve been training well, so taking the momentum into the game, having managed to get three points in our previous game, has given us morale,” he said.
“I believe concentration, since we are also playing at home, will really help us to get positive results.”