Leopards out to roar back against Thika

AFC Leopards will be seeking to bounce back from their weekend loss against c when they tackle visiting Thika United at the Mumias Sports Complex in one of the six league matches lined up this weekend.

The defeat at Afraha ended Leopards’ three-match unbeaten streak, and also denied Zdravko Logarusic’s men a chance of assuming league leadership.

It will be interesting to see how the Leopards turn out for this match, after the 13-time champions’ Croat coach blasted a section of his players after the 2-1 loss to the soldiers.

“The team is suffering from the effects of lacking a proper preseason and that is something that you work over a period of time. However, there are some passengers in the squad but thank God we only have three months before we can clean the team up,” said the outspoken Croat after the loss.

The current form of Jacob Keli, and his developing partnership with new signing Emmanuel Ngama will be significant as they fight to avoid a second straight defeat.

Their Thika-based opponents are however riding on a rich vein of form having broken a three-match winless duck with a 4-2 win over Muhoroni Youth last weekend, and Coach Tim Bryett, who has on his side the sensational striker Ray Omondi, has called for fair officiating.

“The boys keep improving every day and I really hope that we are treated fairly during this match. We are confident of getting the three points,” he told Nation Sport yesterday.

Ten-time champions Tusker FC will take on Chemelil Sugar at the Chemelil Sports Complex today with the brewers eager to make return to Nairobi with the three points and pile pressure on leaders Bandari.

Tusker head coach Francis Kimanzi will bank on striker and skipper Jesse Were, who has scored three goals in the last two matches, as he seeks to turn the tide on the sugar millers in their Awasi home.

Last season, Chemelil picked four points from the brewers following their shock 1-0 win at the Ruaraka ground before holding them to a barren draw in Awasi, but Kimanzi remains confident that they will triumph.

“It is still too early to write anyone off. We have not begun the season as we would have liked but it is still early times and we aiming for victory,” he said.

The other Sunday fixtures will see domestic cup holders Sofapaka face third-placed Western Stima at the Kisumu County Stadium, while Sony Sugar, who are yet to concede a goal this season, will be at the Afraha Stadium against bottom side Nakuru All Stars.

On-fire Mathare United will welcome winless City Stars at the Nairobi City Stadium, while Muhoroni Youth face Ushuru FC in Muhoroni.

FIXTURES (all 3pm)

Chemelil v Tusker (Chemelil)

Sunday:

Nakuru All Stars v Sony Sugar (Afraha), Muhoroni Youth v Ushuru (Muhoroni), AFC Leopards v Thika United (Mumias), Mathare United v City Stars (City), Western Stima v Sofapaka (Moi).