Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards go hunting for points

Twenty goals were scored in the six SportPesa Premier League matches that kick started the 2017 season last week, and this weekend promises yet another round of action-packed duels across the country.

Muhoroni Youth and Sofapaka, who were reinstated back to the top flight league by the Sports Disputes Tribunal on Wednesday, will play their first matches of the season against Kariobangi Sharks and Sony Sugar respectively this weekend.

AFC Leopards will also take up their first league assignment of the season as they face newly promoted Nakumatt. Ingwe sat out last weekend’s fixture as their opponents, Ulinzi Stars, were in Egypt for their Caf Confederation Cup match against Smouha.

After the 5-2 capitulation in their opening league game against Nzoia Sugar last weekend, defending champions Tusker will be looking for a fresh start as they face Thika United tomorrow in Thika.

In last weekend’s horror show at Afraha, Tusker shipped in all the five goals from set-pieces, and coach George Nsimbe knows he has little time to fix his leaking defence if the brewers are to return to winning ways.

Striker Allan Wanga (illness), Humphrey Mieno (groin) and Ekaliani Ndolo (ankle), all of whom missed the Nzoia match, are back in contention for a place in the starting line-up.

“All we need is focus. This is going to be a tough season for us but we can still perform well if we focus on our objectives,” the Ugandan told Nation Sport.

Thika United surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Mathare United last weekend, and coach James Nandwa is focused on correcting their errors.

“This is a completely new team and in matches like these you have to try everything. Our goalkeeper (Kaleb Wafula) is particularly young and I think he did his best. He has great potential and other than that, we have two more goalies who are also quite talented,” Nandwa said of Wafula, who was heavily criticised after the loss.

“Tusker also lost their first match so since we will be at home once more, we shall try to overcome them.”

Gor Mahia will be at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu Saturday afternoon to face debutantes Zoo Kericho hoping to extend their 100 per cent record this term.

Gor cruised to a 3-1 win over newly promoted Kariobangi Sharks last weekend in a match where new signings Kenneth Muguna and Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza produced top performances.

Zoo lost 1-0 to 10-man Posta Rangers in their opening league match last weekend, and will therefore need to be at their best if they are to avoid successive defeats in the league.

FIXTURES

Saturday

Posta Rangers v Bandari (Thika)

Gor Mahia v Zoo Kericho (Kisumu)

Chemelil Sugar v Kakamega Homeboyz (Chemelil)

Nzoia Sugar v Mathare United (Sudi)

Sunday

Thika United v Tusker (Thika)

Nakumatt v AFC Leopards (Thika)

Muhoroni Youth v Kariobangi Sharks (Muhoroni)

Sofapaka v Sony Sugar (Afraha)