Gor Mahia face City Stars, AFC Leopards welcome Sony

Gor Mahia coach Marcelo Ferreira has said he will try to overturn his team’s recent rut in form as they take on Nairobi City Stars on Sunday in a Kenyan Premier League at the Nyayo Stadium.

On Saturday, 13-time champions AFC Leopards will be out to bounce back to winning ways when they tackle Sony Sugar at Nyayo from 4.15pm, while Mathare United will host Thika United at the same venue from 2pm.

On Sunday, leaders Tusker will be guests to struggling Sofapaka at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos while Robert Matano’s Ulinzi Stars will be out to end a four-match winless run in the league when they host Ushuru at Afraha Stadium.

Gor Mahia have failed to register a win in their last two league games, which has seen the team fail to close the five-point gap between them and leaders Tusker at the summit of the standings.

FAILED TO SPARKLE

Ferreira on Friday admitted that his charges have failed to sparkle in the last two games but was quick to state that they will be back on track when they tackle City Stars, who seem to be on the path to recovery under new coach Tamale Pinto.

Lead striker Jacques Tuyisenge was uncharacteristically quiet in their back-to-back draws against Kakamega Homeboyz and Ushuru but Ferreira expects the Rwandan captain to be at his destructive best against City Stars.

“There seems to be a problem with the team in terms of synergy and coordination and to be honest it is a concern not just for me but even to the players themselves,” Ferreira told Saturday Nation Sport.

“I have talked to them individually to get their points of view and perhaps we shall need to change a few things in the squad going forward.”

Veteran City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera, scorer of the team’s equaliser against Ulinzi Stars last weekend, will be facing his former employers, as will team captain Jimmy Bageya who will return to the fold from suspension.

“I thank God for the goal last week. It is just through hard work that we managed to get one point against Ulinzi. Gor may be a stronger team, but we picked a point from them in the first leg, meaning that we can do the same if we work harder,” Odera said on Friday.

Leopards, who drew 1-1 with Mathare United last weekend in a match that left a bitter taste in the mouth of coach Francis Kimanzi, will attempt to complete the double over Sony Sugar at Nyayo.

Striker Paul Kiongera will have to pass a late fitness test after suffering an injury on his right ankle last weekend ahead of the match. Sony are coming into this match after their 1-0 win over Bandari in their last league match.

League top scorer Wycliffe Ochomo returns for Muhoroni Youth after serving his one-game suspension as they tackle Bandari away in Mombasa on Sunday.

FIXTURES

Saturday:

Mathare United v Thika United (Nyayo Stadium, 2pm)

Chemelil Sugar v KK Homeboyz (Chemelil Stadium, 3pm)

Western Stima v Posta Rangers (Moi Stadium, 3pm)
AFC Leopards v Sony Sugar (Nyayo Stadium, 4.15pm)

Sunday:

Sofapaka v Tusker (Machakos Stadium, 2pm)

Bandari v Muhoroni Youth (Mbaraki Stadium, 3pm)

Ulinzi Stars v Ushuru (Afraha Stadium, 3pm)

Gor Mahia v City Stars (Nyayo Stadium, 4.15pm)