By Samuel Gacharira,

Controversy and board room tussles have rented the air all week with KPL and FKF involved in supremacy battles. With the dust yet to settle attention will be diverted to the field of play this weekend as the league enters the penultimate stage. Will Gor Mahia crumble under pressure and cede ground on the title race?

Saturday

Second placed Sofapaka will look to step up their pursuit for the title with a win against an improving AFC Leopards side. Morale is has hit an all-time for the hosts with Ingwe players reported to have been on a go slow all week over accrued salaries and allowances. The visitors will welcome back captain Felly Mulumba from suspension while injured Danson Kago’s availability is still in question.

In Kisumu, league leaders Gor Mahia will square it off with Francis Baraza’s Muhoroni Youth. Victory will be the main agenda for both teams with K’ogalo well aware that any other result will jeopardize their title defense. For the hosts, three points will steer them to the top half of the log and give them a chance to feature in the Top 8 tournament next season.

Ushuru will look to end their losing streak that has seen them pick zero points from eight matches when they go head to head with Chemelil Sugar. Ken Kenyatta will miss the services of Davies Ikocheli who is suspended for this tie while Geoffrey Kataka remains sidelined on disciplinary grounds. The visitors will look to consolidate their top five finish with a win in this tie.

Robert Matano will be targeting a fifth consecutive win when the soldiers welcome Bandari. Twahir Muhiddin will have to reshuffle his back line in the absence of suspended Humphrey Okoti as he aims to burst Ulinzi Stars’ bubble.

Sunday

Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno’s charges quest to finish in a Top 8 position will continue this weekend when they tackle KCB in an early kickoff match.The bankers need to win this tie to ensure safety and ease pressure going into their last league fixture. Rishadi Shedu has a full squad to choose from which good news for him going into this game.

Later on, Tusker will seek to keep up the title chase when they play Thika United. The hosts will welcome back Fredrick Onyango and Athman Buki from injury, while the Thika based outfit will hope to end their losing streak away from home.

Mathare United will look to swap places with Western Stima when they host them at Nyayo Stadium. The slum boys who are ranked 10^th can climb to 11^th place with a win over the Henry Omino’s side who are only two points above them.

Relegation threatened Nairobi City Stars will hope their star will shine in Nakuru against relegated Nakuru All Stars. For the hosts, they will only play for pride while Robinson Ofwoku will hope to pick three points to avoid the chop at least in this round.

FIXTURE

Saturday 1^st November

AFC Leopards vs. Sofapaka (1400hrs, Mumias Stadium), Muhoroni Youth vs. Gor Mahia (1400hrs, Kisumu Stadium), Ushuru vs. Chemelil Sugar (City Stadium), Ulinzi Stars vs. Bandari (Afraha Stadium)

Sunday 2^nd November

KCB vs. Sony Sugar (1400hrs, Ruaraka Complex), Tusker vs. Thika United (1615hrs, Ruaraka Complex), Mathare United vs. Western Stima (Nyayo Stadium), Nakuru All Stars vs. Nairobi City Stars (Afraha Stadium)

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