Leopards confront Stima demons, Gor Mahia seek Cup solace in Mumias

Kenyan Premier League sides Western Stima and AFC Leopards clash in a high stakes GOtv Shield round of 16 contest at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday.

On Sunday, holders Bandari host second tier side Bidco United at the Mbaraki Sports Club while former champions Gor Mahia visit National Super League high flyers Nzoia United in Mumias.

Ulinzi Stars tackle Chemelil Sugar at Afraha Stadium from 3pm on Saturday in another potentially explosive match.

In Kisumu, Leopards will be out to confront the Western Stima jinx with a place in the domestic Cup quarter-final at stake.

While Stima will be buoyant ahead of the encounter following their 3-0 demolition of neighbours Muhoroni Youth in their weekend KPL match at the same venue, Leopards are cautious after sudden dip in form where they have picked only a point in the past two matches.

Leopards top scorer Kepha Aswani will also miss the match after heading to Ethiopia for trials with Ababa City FC.

Stima coach Henry Omino has warned the 2013 GOtv Shield winners to expect another difficult outing in Kisumu. Stima beat Leopards 2-1 in the first leg league match on April 27.

“There will be no margin for error since this is a very important match for us. Leopards are a good team and we have to be at our level best to emerge victorious,” Omino said on Friday.

“We have a good record against them but we will not bask in the sand because this is totally a different match, but we are ready.”

Leopards coach Ivan Minnaert has admitted the departure of Aswani will dent their attacking threat, coming before a very important fixture.

“Definitely he has been instrumental in the team and it will for sure affect us. We have to find solutions immediately. We haven’t been playing well recently but my task at the moment is to lift the players for the next game, that’s what is important,” Minnaert said.

FERREIRA AWAY

In Mumias, K’Ogalo will be seeking redemption in the Cup competition after going for three consecutive league matches without a win.

Three successive draws in the league have rocked Gor’s charge for an unprecedented 16th title, but the return of the Cup competition offers a perfect distraction for Marcelo Ferreira’s misfiring charges.

The Brazilian coach is out of the country and will not be on the touchline in this match, but assistant coach Tom Ogweno is exuding confidence that his team will win the contest.

“The league is different from such knockout competitions. Such games are usually trickier but we are ready,” Ogweno said.

K’Ogalo edged out Nairobi Stima 2-0 in the round of 32 last month where Enoch Agwanda and Meddie Kagere were on target.

Gor face a Nzoia United side that is on top of the National Super League table and remains unbeaten in 21 games so far.

“Once you register for a competition like this you sign up to compete until the end. We have been playing very good football and even though they may have better players, we shall do our best to edge them out in 90 minutes,” Nzoia coach Bernard Mwalala said.

FIXTURES

Saturday:

Western Stima v AFC Leopards Moi Stadium, Kisumu (3pm)

Ulinzi Stars v Chemelil Afraha (3pm)

Sunday:

Modern Coast Rangers v Kariobangi Sharks-Mbaraki (2pm)

Bandari FC v Bidco United-Mbaraki (4:15pm)

Nzoia United v Gor Mahia-Mumias (3pm)

Thika United v KCB-Thika (3pm)