Gor play Chemelil in title chase

Sofapaka’S Enock Agwanda (left) shields the ball from Power Dynamos player Emmanuel Chimpinde during their friendly match played on February 4, 215 at Nyayo Stadium. Sofapaka won 1-0. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Striker Agwanda to debut for K’Ogalo at Afraha as league action resumes.
  • 13-time champs Leopards play Thika United at Thika on Saturday.

Striker Enock Agwanda is expected to make his Gor Mahia debut on Saturday afternoon against Chemelil Sugar as the defending champions begin their second leg onslaught at the Afraha Stadium.

Agwanda is the only player acquired by K’Ogalo in the June transfer window, and the 24 year old says he is ready to impress on Saturday and throughout his stay at his new club.

“I have held enough training sessions with the team and even though the squad is yet to be named, I am ready for action if called upon,” he said on Saturday.

Agwanda laughed off the question about whether he is dreading the club’s expectant fans whose chants can quickly turn from support to condemnation, saying that he is equal to his goal scoring tasks.

“Fear the fans? Even when I was at Sofapaka they still had fans but I used to score against them so what is there to fear? What is important is to deliver on my duties and grow in my career. Those are the things I am focusing on,” he said.

K’Ogalo beat Chemelil Sugar 3-1 in a reverse fixture in March, and they carry high levels of confidence having recorded back-to-back victories in their last five competitive games.

At the Thika Municipal Stadium, 13-time champions AFC Leopards will play guests to Thika United.

Several Ingwe players invoked Fifa statutes on Player Transfer and Status in demanding their release letters earlier in the month, and it remains to be known which players will be available on Saturday afternoon to play against Thika.

Both goalkeepers Wyclef Kasaya and Joel Bataro have ditched the club, leaving new acquisition Lucas Indeche with the onus to start for Ingwe between the sticks in this tie.

Coach Zdravko Logarusic was scheduled to arrive in the country on Friday evening, but Thika tactician Tim Bryett expressed confidence that his team would prevail in this match.

THIKA UNITED READY

“We are ready for AFC (Leopards). I observed the boys during the Shield Cup match against Amboseli and I have no concerns with their current output. I am optimistic of a good result,” the former Nairobi City Stars coach said.

In other matches scheduled for Saturday, domestic cup holders Sofapaka will be at their Machakos home ground against fifth placed Western Stima.

Batoto ba Mungu have lost several of their key players including strikers Enock Agwanda and Abdul Fiston, defenders Elly Asieche and Eugene Asike as well as midfielder Danson Kago, and they are yet to make any major signings with four days to the close of the current transfer market.

FIXTURES:

Saturday: 3.30pm KCB vs Bandari (Kasarani), 2pm Chemelil Sugar vs Gor Mahia (Afraha), 3pm Sofapaka vs Western Stima (Machakos), 3pm City Stars vs Muhoroni Youth (Ruaraka), 3.30pm Ushuru vs SonySugar (Kasarani), 4.15pm Thika United vs AFC Leopards (Thika Stadium)