Kenyan Premier league enters its 10th week with interesting matches lined up in what could be a great weekend both at the top and at the bottom of the table.
High riding Tusker face a stern test against Posta Rangers, AFC Leopards confront Ulinzi Stars in a juicy looking clash, stuttering champion Gor Mahia undergo more scrutiny as they host rivals Sony Sugar while Bandari look to get their campaign running away to Western Stima as the league marks its first third stage over the weekend.
SATURDAY
Chemelil Sugar vs Ushuru (Chemelil Stadium Sports Complex, 1pm)
Ushuru are winless in their last three games, and will have rued dropping two crucial points in a 1-1 draw against AFC Leopards last weekend, a match they dominated.
The tax men’s holding midfielder Nelson Marosowe returns to action after serving a one match suspension.
The two sides traded 1-0 score lines in their encounters last season and Saturday’s clash has the ingredients of another close affair.
Kakamega Homeboyz vs Thika United (Mumias Sugar Sports Complex, 2pm)
Homeboyz recorded their first back-to-back win of the season last weekend and will, understandably, be bubbling with confidence.
Patrick Oboya is unavailable for Homeboyz with illness, but former Chemelil Sugar midfielder Hamisi Mwinyi, dependable striker Jeremiah Wanjala and playmaker Moses Mudavadi are all keyed up to do duty for the Kakamega-based outfit.
City Stars vs Sofapaka (Nyayo Stadium, 2pm)
The 2009 league champions will be desperately hoping to avoid a ninth successive defeat.
Their coach David Ouma hinted vaguely at resigning from this position last week, but he was clear that he wished to leave a team that was well above the dreaded relegation zone. Troubling for Sofapaka are reports that the players have threatened to boycott this match over unpaid salaries.
Forward Heritier Luvualu and defenders Wycliffe Opondo and Edgar Ochieng will lead Sofapaka’s search for goals against a City side seeking redemption.
The Nairobi-based outfit have lost two successive matches after previously going four outings without defeat.
You will have to go back to March 2014 to find the last time Sofapaka were beaten by Stars. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in their first leg encounter last year before Sofapaka beat City Stars 2-0 in the second leg match played in Machakos. Pundits tip City to claim an emphatic victory over the vulnerable Batoto ba Mungu.
Western Stima vs Bandari (Moi Stadium, 3pm)
Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin has lashed out at his strikers for putting up unconvincing displays since the beginning of the season. You cannot blame him if you look at the firepower at his disposal: Dan Sserunkuma, Edwin Lavatsa, Shabaan Kenga , Anthony Kimani et al.
The dockers have won only one match away from home this season, against struggling Sofapaka.
Stima on the other hand have won only two games so far this season, and are winless since March 30.
The two teams have battled to stalemates in four of their last six meetings.
AFC Leopards vs Ulinzi Stars (Mumias Sugar Sports Complex, 4.15pm)
This is certainly the biggest match of the weekend.
The soldiers have uncharacteristically lost their last two matches and Leopards should expect a backlash of sorts.
Ingwe defender Yusuf Juma suffered an ankle injury in their last match and is doubtful for this game.
Ulinzi won all their encounters against the Big Cats last season, 1-0, 1-0 in the league and a 4-0 thrashing in the GOtv Shield Cup semi-final.
Gor Mahia vs SonySugar (Nyayo Stadium, 4.15pm)
Gor Mahia lost 1-0 to Tusker last weekend thereby squandering their chances of rising to the top half of the SPL table.
But Sony Sugar have always been easy opponents for Gor.
The two teams met three times last year with Gor carrying the day on all occasions.
Gor’s Brazilian coach Marcelo Ferreira announced on Thursday that striker Jacques Tuyisenge had recovered fully from an ankle injury. His inclusions will be a major boost to Gor’s flagging front line.
Sony’s Salim Babu returns to the touchline for this match, and he will be assisted by former player Collins Omondi.
SUNDAY
Posta Rangers vs Tusker (Nyayo Stadium, 2pm)
An enticing looking encounter, this.
Promoted Rangers are fourth in the table and considered in some quarters as the dark horses to win the title.
The flourishing form of striker Timothy Otieno marks him out as the danger man for Rangers.
Table topping Tusker are also enjoying superb and have won three of their last four matches.
Danson Kago continues to miss out for the brewers due to injury but the breweries coach Paul Nkata can look to Shaffiq Batambuze, Timonnah Wanyonyi and Noah Wafula for options.
Mathare United vs Muhoroni Youth (Nyayo Stadium, 4.15pm)
Wycliffe Ochomo had a lull in Muhoroni’s last league match against Western Stima where his team drew 0-0e. If Muhoroni are to fire he will need to put on his scoring boots.
League leaders Mathare have notched up three wins in a row and four in their last five matches and will fancy a go at Muhoroni, a team they crashed 3-0 in Nairobi in this same fixture.
