2018/19 SPL fixtures released
What you need to know:
- Defending champions Gor Mahia will be in Mombasa playing guests to runners up Bandari, while Posta Rangers and Western Stima will square it out in Ruaraka.
- The winner of the playoffs clash between Ushuru and Nakumatt FC will tackle Sofapaka in an early kick-off clash that will be staged at Ruaraka Sports Grounds.
- The first Mashemeji Derby will be hosted by Gor Mahia on February 10 at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
The SportPesa Premier League fixtures for the 2018/2019 season are out.
The Kenyan Premier League management released the fixtures on Monday afternoon, indicating that the new season will kick off on Saturday, December 8.
On the opening day of the season, AFC Leopards will welcome Kariobangi Sharks at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, while Mathare United will entertain Chemelil Sugar at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani.
League returnees KCB will open their season’s account with an away match against Kakamega Homeboyz.
Defending champions Gor Mahia will be in Mombasa playing guests to runners up Bandari, while Posta Rangers and Western Stima will square it out in Ruaraka.
The winner of the playoffs clash between Ushuru and Nakumatt FC will tackle Sofapaka in an early kick-off clash that will be staged at Ruaraka Sports Grounds.
The first Mashemeji Derby will be hosted by Gor Mahia on February 10 at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
Normally, a top-flight football league season in Kenya takes place between February and November, but this season will be different as KPL seeks to conform to a directive from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) requiring all leagues on the continent to begin in August and end in May the following year.
“Ultimately Caf wants all leagues in the continent to begin in August and end in May the following year just like it is already happening in Europe. This will bring uniformity and synergy between the various competitions and especially for clubs competing in continental assignments.
“In the 2018/2019 season, we will arrange for a two-week Christmas break plus another break probably in March,” said KPL Chief executive Officer Jack Oguda, who added that KPL and FKF are in talks to introduce ‘special’ transfer windows in November this year and March next year instead of the ordinary January and June windows for the purchase and sale of players.
The Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, South Africa and Ethiopian leagues have already adopted the August-May schedule.
Fixtures
Saturday, December 8
Nakumatt/Ushuru v Sofapaka- Ruaraka
Mathare United v Chemelil- Kasarani
Bandari v Gor Mahia- Mbaraki
AFC Leopards v Kariobangi Sharks- Machakos
Homeboyz v KCB -Bukhungu
Posta v Western Stima- Ruaraka
Sunday, December 9
Zoo v Nzoia Sugar- Green Stadium Kericho
Sony Sugar v Tusker FC Green Stadium Awendo
Vihiga United v Ulinzi Stars- Mumias Complex
December 15
Kariobangi Sharks v Sony Sugar - MISC Kasarani
Kakamega Homeboyz v AFC Leopards -Bukhungu
Nzoia Sugar v Mathare United - Sudi Stadium
Nakumatt/Ushuru v Posta Rangers-Ruaraka
Chemelil Sugar v Vihiga United - Chemelil Complex
Gor Mahia v Zoo FC –MISC
December 16
Sofapaka v Bandari -Narok
Ulinzi Stars v KCB - Afraha
Stima v Tusker FC - Moi Stadium Kisumu
December 22
KCB v Bandari - MISC
Sofapaka FC v AFC Leopards- Narok
Stima v Kakamega Homeboyz- Moi Stadium
Nzoia Sugar v Kariobangi Sharks- Sudi Stadium
Mathare United v Ulinzi Stars- Kenyatta Stadium
Gor Mahia v Posta – MISC
December 23
Zoo FC v Chemelil Sugar - Green Stadium
Tusker FC v Ushuru/Nakumatt- Ruaraka
Vihiga United v Sony Sugar - Mumias Complex