Koops seeks to switch off Stima

AFC Leopards’ coach Jan Koops is keeping calm even as the pressure shifts back to his table-topping AFC Leopards on Saturday when they are “hosted” by Western Stima at Afraha Stadium.

Lurking in fifth place, six points behind the leaders are the resurgent Thika United who welcome relegation candidates Rangers in Thika on Saturday.

On Sunday, reinforced Sofapaka, lying fourth in the league, travel to Nakuru to face a wounded Ulinzi Stars in another crucial title chasing encounter.

On Monday, it will be the time for third-placed Tusker to have a say in the race when they meet the dangerous KCB at City Stadium.

Conspiracies invented

With only seven round of matches remaining before the league ends any slip-up at this stage may very well cost any of the title chasers the coveted title. No wonder the nerves are getting tighter and all sorts of conspiracies are being invented.

Leopards reacted in anger when their match was abruptly shifted from Mumias to Nakuru.

Western Stima team manager, Paul Ochieng, explained that their home ground Bukhungu was in an unplayable state and they opted not to play in Mumias because they had lost all league fixtures played there.

Reassuring grandfather

Aggrieved Leopards wondered why the KPL office informed them of the fixture change on Tuesday when they had already set up base in Mumias.

Some school of thought has it that things should be made difficult to prevent certain clubs from winning the league. All rumours, but it certainly rattled Leopards enough for them to cry wolf.

Septuagenarian Koops, like a grandfather reassuring an agitated household, said their focus was on the ultimate prize and what mattered was his players concentrating on playing football and nothing else.

“From the beginning of the season our objective has been to win the league. We are currently leading the league table and we must remain in the lead. I know this team is capable of doing so,” Koops said.

This team is having a few concerns though.

One, KPL’s most expensive defender in history, Eric Masika, is struggling with a hamstring injury while striker Victor Ochieng is also an injury doubt.

Two, despite leading the league’s scoring chart with 32 goals Leopards have failed to score in their last two matches.

Internationals Mike Baraza and Allan Wanga, incidentally Leopards top marks men this season, will need to rediscover their scoring boots today against focused Stima.

Western Stima lie seventh in the league and have loudly declared they want to break a lousy two-match losing streak as they consolidate their mid-table status.

Thika were walloped 0-5 by Leopards and 1-4 by Sofapaka in August but recovered to win their next two matches on the trot and will fancy all three points against lowly Rangers.

Sofapaka versus Ulinzi on Sunday has epic battle written all over it.

Sofapaka are now under new coach, Englishman Stewart Hall.

The 2009 champions have also been bolstered by the return of internationally experienced Osborn Monday and George Owino, who is, however, suspended for this match.

Kick-off 3 pm unless stated otherwise.

Saturday:Nairobi City Stars v Mathare United (Hope Centre), Western Stima v AFC Leopards (Afraha Stadium), Thika United v Rangers (Thika Municipal Stadium).

Sunday:Ulinzi Stars v Sofapaka (Afraha Stadium), Chemelil Sugar v Oserian (Chemelil). Monday: KCB v Tusker (City Stadium, 4 pm).