This is the week that might see Gor Mahia crowned 2015 KPL champions should they beat Ulinzi Stars in a key game on the weekend as Nakuru All Stars face off with KCB in a battle to avoid relegation and AFC Leopards play Western Stima in the first of their two matches behind closed door – punishment for crowd trouble caused by their fans.
FRIDAY
Ushuru v Chemelil Sugar (City Stadium, 2pm)
Four games without a single loss is the odd are against Chemelil Sugar as the face ushuru side who are now in eighth position.
Ushuru forced a 0-0 draw against giants Tusker and their coach Ken Kenyatta side are ni the right frim of mind their coach saying that they must win on Friday to snap a two-game run without victory.
The Taxmen will welcome the Millers in the first match of week 26 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Chemelil won the first leg encounter 1-0 at home in Kisumu.
City Stars v Thika United (City Stadium, 4.15pm)
Thika United have been on a rejuvenated since the departure of former coach Tim Bryett, winning their last two matches with four goals scored.
Club top scorer Sanneh Ebrima, whose six goals for City Stars has seen him get nominated for the Fans KPL Player of the Month for August, he will be the man to watch as the two team face off.
Thika should be wary of City Stars who are fighting to avoid relegation and will most certainly be very dangerous opponents as any entity fighting for survival would.
SATURDAY
AFC Leopards v Western Stima (Kasarani Stadium, 11am)
AFC Leopards will host Western Stima behind closed doors as they serve a two-match ban over crowd trouble.
Ingwe have not won in their last six outings, a situation that has seen them drop from a podium placing to sixth place and well in danger of slipping out of the desired top eight.
coach Zdravko Logarusic is expected back in Time for the closed door class against stima as report indicate,having missed the last league encounter against Chemelil
Stima stunned Leopards 2-0 in their reverse fixture in May and, given the troubles at the den, will feel confident of doing a double.
Bandari v Tusker (Mombasa County Stadium, 2pm)
Unpredictable Tusker have gone five matches without a win and could be facing a crisis of confidence here.
They face a coastal side which have proven a hard nut to crack this season and are looking to repay they local fans with a win. Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin may be forced to leave out veteran goalkeeper Wilson Oburu after admitting the shot stopper should give way to the younger keeper as his poor performance against Gor mahia.
Bandari will miss the services for the influential Ugandan midfielder Musa Mudde,who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.
Muhoroni Youth v Mathare United (Muhoroni Stadium, 3pm)
Muhoroni Youth are riding high on a 12-match unbeaten run that has seen them collect an impressive 28 points to rise from 13th to fifth on the league table. They have won six of their last seven matches and will start as the unlikely favourites given Mathare United’s pedigree.
Mathare have been inconsistent this leg but will take solace in the fact they whipped Muhoroni 3-0 in the first leg encounter on May 3 in Nairobi.
Muhoroni’s productive forward Wycliffe Ochomo will miss this match on suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.
Muhoroni Youth FC are at position five with 35 points while Mathare United sits on the eight spot on the Kenyan Premier League [KPL] table.
Sony Sugar v Sofapaka (Awendo Green Stadium, 3pm)
Tough times for Sofapaka as they head to the notoriously difficult to win venue of Awendo on the back of a four-match winless streak.
Indeed trying times for the 2009 champions who pushed last year’s title race to the very last day, and were considered among the heavy favourites for this year’s title.
They face a resurgent Sony Sugar side that has not tasted defeat since July 27, six matches ago.
The sugar millers felled formidable Mathare 2-1 two weeks back and will fancy collecting Sofapaka’s scalp.
SUNDAY
Nakuru All Stars v KCB (Afraha Stadium, 2pm)
You will expect no holds to be barred as both fight to remain in the top flight football.
Bottom ranked All Stars are the most vulnerable. If they lose this match and the next one against Mathare United their relegation will almost certainly be sealed.
All Stars’ Lnamba Bebeto, who is a nominee for the Fans’ Player of the Month for August, is expected to start once again in Peter Okidi’s squad, while the bankers have the lethal Paul Kiongera and Chrispinus Onyango to count on for the delivery of goals.
Ulinzi Stars v Gor Mahia (Afraha Stadium, 4.15pm)
The potential 2015 Kenyan Premier League title-deciding clash between runaway leaders Gor Mahia and second-placed Ulinzi Stars set for Sunday at the Afraha Stadium, 4pm EAT.
Gor mahia just need to beat the second-placed Ulinzi to build an unassailable lead on the league table.
Both teams will be at full strength and in good form, signs this could be a cracker.
Gor beat Ulinzi 2-1 in the first leg encounter at the City Stadium to avenge a 2-0 loss inflicted by the soldiers in March last year.
The team will however make do without first choice keeper and skipper James Saruni who is still two weeks away from fitness after scathing his knee in the EA Military games, according to a doctor report issued by assistant coach Benjamin Nyangweso.
