Leopards on the prowl in Thika

By the end of the weekend, the league will have marked one third of its season and it may very well cement the mark of the genuine contenders looking at the match-ups over the next two days.

League leaders, and admittedly the form team of the moment, AFC Leopards face a difficult league outing away to a resurgent Thika United on Saturday.

Second-placed Sofapaka, also on a rich vein of form, face one of their sternest test against a wounded and dangerous Gor Mahia on Sunday at City Stadium.

Floundering campaign

Resilient Tusker, third on the league table, confront a tricky opponent in the re-bounding Mathare United at Nyayo Stadium tomorrow in one of the matches of the weekend while Chemelil Sugar will want to keep up with the top three as they host unpredictable KCB.

Watch out also for limping Ulinzi Stars as they attempt to resuscitate a floundering campaign against a Nairobi City outfit desperate to turn their brand of good football into victory.

But the main focus will obviously be on AFC Leopards be virtue of hogging the top spot for almost two months now and also remaining the only unbeaten team in the league.

Thika , unbeaten since losing their opening league match 2-0 to Gor Mahia, have been in belligerent mood telling however cares to listen how they will inflict Leopards’ first loss. Leopards amenable coach, Jan Koop, maintained his standard pre-match responses

“I have a good team and we are playing well. Thika are a difficult side but we expect to get results there,” he said. The league leaders will be without international strike Allan Wanga and goalkeeper Patrick Matasi who are injured.

Remarkable transformation

As a result Barnabas Tiema, no slouch in goal, gets a chance to test league action this season while Mike Baraza, Victor Ochieng and Jimmy Bageya look certain to lead a three-prong feared Leopards attack.

Thika United will feel confident of a toe-to-toe slug out with the league leaders and they have scoring machine Kepha Aswani as their trump card.

Top league scorer John Baraza will relish a go at Gor Mahia as Sofapaka try to keep tabs with pace-setting Leopards.

Sofapaka coach Salim Ali has quietly constructed an efficient, workman outfit who get the job done, good or ugly. Gor, under new Croation coach Zdrvako Logarusic, are in urgent need of a confidence boast that has not been helped by the suspension of star midfielder Collins Okoth.

Searching for their first win in nine matches makes them dangerous opponents to the title chasing Sofapaka. One month ago Tusker would have been the firm favourites against Mathare United but it appears anyone’s game on Sunday.

Previously struggling, Mathare have undergone a remarkable transformation under new, young coach Stanley Okumbi to stay undefeated in four ties with two victories.

“We want to be optimistic. We want to get the winning mentality. That is the key,” Okumbi, 31, said. A sumptuous battle looms.

Winning against the meanest defence in the league that has let in only four goals will be another matter.