Gor ready to rain on Ulinzi's parade

A massive twelve points separate champions Gor Mahia and Ulinzi Stars on the Kenyan Premier League table, but it will count for nothing when the two giants face off Wednesday evening at the Nairobi City Stadium in what is expected to be a bruising battle.

Gor faced a severe test from Tusker on Sunday at the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium with the brewers stretching them to the limit to force a 1-1 draw, and though Frank Nuttall’s charges have had little time to recover from that consuming battle, the Scot coach is expected to marshal his troops with the intent of disarming the soldiers who have blown hot and cold this term if they are to climb to the summit of table.

(READ: Gor, Tusker share the spoils)

Second on 43 points, K’Ogalo will march to the top of the table if they avoid a loss against the soldiers. Ulinzi, under the fiery coach Robert ‘The Lion’ Matano, have been far from impressive this term and head into Wednesday’s duel shy of confidence in the wake of a disappointing 0-1 defeat suffered in the hands of relegation battlers Kenya Commercial Bank.

HOPEFUL

From a side that won three league titles in a row between 2003 and 2005, much has expected of them but their performances have been devoid of spark.

The 2010 league champions retained the East African Military Games football title last month in Zanzibar before losing to Tusker 4-5 on post-match penalties in the GOtv Shield Cup at Afraha before going down 0-1 to KCB on Friday.

But custodian James Saruni - speaking to the club’s official website - was upbeat of his team’s chances against the reigning champions who have only lost thrice in 22 matches this term.

“I am very positive that we will bounce back. Sometimes losing gets you into reality that indeed, you need to be more compact, work harder and get results. That is what we need. We have taken the result as a wake-up call and we are working hard for our next match,” he enthused.

CALABAR OUT

Gor - who are eyeing to retain the league title they comfortably won last season - will have to put their backroom staff problems before the soldiers visit City Stadium.

Nuttall will be without the reliable and versatile defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.

“I have watched their (Ulinzi Stars) games. They are a compact, physical side and we expect a very tough game,” said Nuttall told Nation Sport.

Much maligned gigantic Ugandan centre-half Israel Emuge could be recalled from wilderness to partner Harun Shakava while Kevin Oluoch - a Sunday starter at the left-back position - is another strong option.

Nuttall will take encouragement from the performance of left back Godfrey Walusimbi who was arguably Gor’s most dangerous player on Sunday.

Deployed on the attacking left wing, Walusimbi made numerous forays deep into Tusker half and his darting runs, creativity and incisive passes will be crucial against the Nakuru-based side.