Mathare up next for Leopards, Gor tackle Ushuru

AFC Leopards will be seeking a second successive win when they tackle Mathare United in a Kenyan Premier League match at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
On Sunday, champions Gor Mahia face Ushuru in a 4.15pm kick off at Nyayo Stadium while leaders Tusker will hope to extend their lead top the standings when they welcome Chemelil Sugar at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos from 2pm.

Leopards, who broke an eight-match winless run last weekend in their 4-0 rout of Thika United, will be out to build on that win when they face Francis Kimanzi’s Mathare United.

AFC Leopards coach Ivan Minnaert on Friday hinted at giving Malian midfielder Moussa Sissoko – who arrived in the country early this week - his debut.

A confident Minnaert told Saturday Nation Sport that his charges at ready for the high-flying Mathare United.

“We are ready for them. We weren’t perfect last weekend but there was remarkable improvement and now that we have two more players coming in I think we can produce another good performance,” he said.

If he starts for Ingwe, Sissoko is likely to be paired upfront alongside former Simba SC striker Paul Kiongera, who scored the opener last weekend.

OUT TO MAKE AMENDS

Title-chasing Mathare, who are smarting from last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Western Stima, will be out to make amends in this encounter and close the gap between them and the top.

Mathare sit third on the standings with 31 points, same as second-placed Gor Mahia but with an inferior goal difference.

“We faltered last weekend but that is football. When you are winning sometimes you have to be ready to lose sometimes. We took the defeat in stride and we are waiting for the next game. If we win we shall still be on track,” Kimanzi said on Friday.

Leopards and Mathare drew 1-1 in the opening fixture of the season at the same venue.

K’Ogalo’s quest for a fourth consecutive league title was checked last weekend when Kakamega Homeboyz forced the champions to a 1-1 draw in Kisumu and Marcelo Ferreira’s charges know they have to beat Ushuru to keep pace with Tusker.

KAGERE ON FIRE

Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere sent out a strong message to other teams last weekend after scoring on his return to the side and is expected to partner Jacques Tuyisenge in attack.

In Machakos, Tusker returnee Alan Wanga could make his debut against Chemelil Sugar. Tusker will be out to complete a double over Chemelil, after their 3-0 win in the first leg fixture in Awasi.

KPL top scorer Wycliffe Ochomo will sit out this weekend’s match for Muhoroni Youth due to the red card he picked up last weekend, as will City Stars striker Jimmy Bageya and the Thika United duo of Suleiman Ngotho and Salim Mwanje - who have accumulated five yellow cards each.

FIXTURES

Saturday:

City Stars v Ulinzi Stars (Nyayo Stadium, 2pm)

Thika United v Western Stima (Thika Stadium, 3pm)

Mathare United v AFC Leopards (Nyayo Stadium, 4.15pm)

Sunday:

Tusker v Chemelil Sugar (Kenyatta Stadium, 2pm)

Sony Sugar v Bandari (Awendo Stadium, 3pm)

Muhoroni Youth v Posta Rangers (Muhoroni, 3pm)

KK Homeboyz v Sofapaka (Mumias Complex, 3pm)

Ushuru v Gor Mahia (Nyayo Stadium, 4.15pm)