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