Muhoroni Youth prey on Gor Mahia in Kisumu

Gor Mahia's Jacques Tuyisenge celebrates his goal against Ushuru during their Kenyan Premier League Top 8quarter-final match on May 2, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Mathare out to reclaim their place at league summit
  • Tying on 17 points in the league standings, both Gor and Muhoroni will be fighting to bag three points that could propel the winner to third place on the log.
  • Gor’s lethal striker Jacques Tuyisenge is likely to partner Enoch Agwanda and George “Blackberry” Odhiambo in attack.
  • On Sunday, fifth placed AFC Leopards face a tricky Posta Rangers at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Muhoroni Youth coach James Omondi is anticipating an explosive afternoon when his charges tackle SportPesa Premier League defending champions Gor Mahia at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu on Saturday.

Tying on 17 points in the league standings, both teams will be fighting to bag three points that could propel the winner to third place on the log.

Buoyed by their good form that has seen his team go four matches without tasting defeat in the league and their 3-0 thumping win over Sofapaka in the KPL Top 8 Knockout Tournament last weekend, Omondi is optimistic of a good result on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to Saturday Nation Sport on Saturday, Omondi said that his team is no longer an underdog, and that they will tackle the 15-time league champions without fear.

“Let them (Gor Mahia) come, we have no reason to fear. So many things are different right now. My team is on form and we have beaten some of those big teams meaning that we are no longer the underdogs,” Omondi said.

“(Wycliffe) Ochomo is in good form and of course we (will) rely on him to score goals, but remember that we are a team and everyone is doing their best.”

Ochomo, the current KPL top scorer with nine goals, will be playing against his former employers.

Gor coach Marcelo Ferreira is likely to rotate his team with Abouba Sibomana and Musa Mohammed returning to the starting line-up after sitting out of their 1-0 win over Ushuru in the KPL Top 8 on Monday. Boniface Oluoch is also expected to return in goal.

Ferreira has asked his charges to remain focused and do the most important thing in football “which is to win the game”.

“There is only one important result in a game of football, and that is to win the game. The boys have done a good job so far and we need to remain on the right track by winning this game,” he said on Friday.

Gor’s lethal striker Jacques Tuyisenge is likely to partner Enoch Agwanda and George “Blackberry” Odhiambo in attack.

On Sunday, fifth placed AFC Leopards face a tricky Posta Rangers at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Ingwe were eliminated from the KPL Top 8 race following a 3-2 loss to Ulinzi Stars last Sunday and have not won a league match since their 2-1 win over Sofapaka in April 9.

Rangers, who are third in the log, are well capable of causing further damage to the 13-time champions, having lost only one of their 11 games so far.

DUO SUSPENDED

Leopards coach Ivan Minnaert has already dropped 13 players from his squad, including former Gor Mahia trio of Eric “PPO” Masika, Solomon Nasio and Israel Emuge, Ugandan forward Clement Mata as well as attacking midfielder Khalid Jumaan.

Before this match, Mathare United will be hoping to reclaim the top spot in the standings in an early kick-off against Western Stima at the same venue.

Sony Sugar’s Hamidu Kwizera will miss their tie against Sofapaka as he is serving his one-match suspension while Chemelil Sugar’s Willis Ouma will sit out their game against Bandari after accumulating five yellow cards.