The race towards bagging the Kshs 1 million cash prize offered at the end of the SportPesa Super 8 Premier League reaches new heights this coming weekend when the league enters its 24th round with seven riveting ties on the cards across various grounds.
With less than two months before the curtains come down on the inaugural league, participating teams will be gunning for maximum points with their eyes fixed on bagging the trophy plus the hefty prize.
Currently, the race is wide open as the top three spots are fiercely contested with only a two goal gap separating leaders Jericho All Stars and second-placed Kayole Asubuhi. Kayole and Jericho have 46 points with Shauri Moyo Blue Stars breathing heavily behind their necks at position three with 43 points.
In the absence of Jericho, Asubuhi will have a golden opportunity to taste the fresh air at the top of the log if the collect all points against Kawangware United.
Below is a breakdown of week 24.
SATURDAY
SHAURI MOYO BLUE STARS VS TUK (3PM)
Shauri Moyo Blue Stars will welcome plucky Technical University of Kenya (TUK) at Camp Toyoyo for a chance to close in on the three point gap separating them from the top two teams at the top of the league table standings.
Focus will be anchored on this match as it is expected to be one thrilling affair. Ken Odera’s Blue Stars who are sitting pretty at position three with 43 points will be aiming to overturn their 0-2 first leg defeat at the hands of the university students who are led by Coach Francis Oduor.
However, the Shauri Moyo based team will face a strong opposition from TUK who are fresh from thumping Kiambiu Youth 3-2 in their last match and will be confident of a win to leapfrog the hosts on the grid where they trail by a single point.
SUNDAY
MELTA KABIRIA VS AJAX FC (1PM)
Newly improved Melta Kabiria will host unpredictable Ajax FC at BP grounds in Kawangware with high hopes of stretching their winning streak to six matches on the trot.
The Shadrack Ateka coached side shocked East conference bigwigs and league leaders Jericho All Stars at home last weekend with a 1-0 win that saw them move to 7th on the log with 36 points. This was their best achievement so far and they will be hoping to replicate such a performance when they clash with Ajax who are a point above them on the grid.
KAWANGWARE UNITED VS KAYOLE ASUBUHI (3PM)
After that, visiting Kayole Asubuhi will take on Kawangware United at the same venue.
Second placed Asubuhi are hungry to claim the pole position which is two goals away as they tie on points with the leaders Jericho on 46 points. The East conference title hunters know very well that they cannot let this chance slip down their fingers and will throw every armory at rusty Kawangware who sit 12th with 27 points.
But Isaiah Omondi’s Asubuhi struggled to break Kawangware in the reverse fixture that ended 3-2 and this should give the West siders enough motivation heading into the match.
SHAMAKO BABES VS DIGUNA FC (1PM)
For a double header treat at Kabete grounds, underdogs Shamako Babes will face off with visiting Diguna FC for the first encounter.
Shamako, under tutelage of Peter Kinyanjui have performed dismally in the competition where they are sitting at the base of the 16-team chart with a meager 8 points. In fact, the West conference club is staring at relegation after 23 rounds in the competition where they have managed only two and have another monumental task when they settle it out with Diguna who are 9th with 32 points.
Moses Oduor’s Diguna who are the pre-match favorites will capitalize on their hosts poor form to complete a double over the minnows whom they pummeled 2-0 at home.
KABETE UNITED VS METRO SPORTS (3PM)
At the same venue, Kabete United will entertain their home fans when they clash with fifth-placed Metro Sports.
After going down 0-2 at home against Kayole Asubuhi in their last fixture, Kabete who lie at a distant 10th on the log with 31 points have a high hurdle to jump when they play Metro who have seven points more.
MASA VS BABA DOGO UNITED (3PM)
Makongeni based MASA will be at home against Baba Dogo United.
MASA were forced to share the spoils after a 1-1 draw by visitors in the reverse fixture and they will bank on home support to bring down Baba Dogo who are currently not doing so well where they are ranked 14th with 18 points.
MASA demolished Shamako Babes 5-0 in the last fixture and this will boost their confidence of replicating the same when they play the East siders who are also on the brink of relegation.
KIAMAIKO CITY VS KIAMBIU YOUTH (3PM)
At Huruma grounds, Kiamaiko City takes on Kiambiu Youth.
The two sides are struggling to increase their point tally with Kiamaiko in desperate need for a win as they are placed 13th with 27 points. The West conference team put a strong resistance to go down 2-3 against Shauri Moyo Blue Stars in their last outing and a win will be helpful to steer them out of the relegation zone in their conference table standings.
However, Kiamaiko will face an equally strong opponent in Kiambiu who are three points above on the table at 11th and will be eager to gather the maximum points especially after their previous match against TUK was aborted last Sunday.
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