Hungry AFC Leopards stalk Chemelil, Gor tackle Nzoia

AFC Leopards coach Rodolfo Zapata will be looking to take his team back to the top five as they come up against bogey side Chemelil Sugar on Saturday at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos in one of the nine weekend SportPesa Premier League matches.

Former champions Mathare United, who have been residing in second place for the better part of this season, will want to keep tabs on table leaders Gor Mahia as they tackle Vihiga United at the Camp Toyoyo grounds Saturday.

And reigning champions Gor will be at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu looking to stretch their five-point lead as they face lowly Nzoia Sugar on Sunday.

All eyes will however be on Ingwe who have been blowing hot and cold lately, but who showed signs of rejuvenation last Wednesday when they beat Sofapaka 1-0 in Machakos.

To secure the victory against Batoto ba Mungu, the big cats had to dig deep, prompting Zapata to ignore the squandered chances and congratulate his charges for succeeding in the hunt for maximum points.

The match also carried special meaning for the Argentine coach, as it marked his fifth match without defeat.

"We are unbeaten since I took over, so we deserved to win. I told the boys they had to put the disappointment of last weekend’s (SportPesa Super Cup) loss behind them and focus on collecting three points and although we missed a number of good chances, we stayed focused and delivered three points,” he said.

Midfielder Brian Marita scored a spectacular long range strike during the match, that escaped the hands of Sofapaka’s Ugandan goalkeeper Mathias Kigonya.

The first leg clash between these two teams ended in a barren stalemate. Chemelil come into this match on the back of three consecutive identical 1-0 losses against Bandari, Sofapaka and Sony Sugar.

The sugar millers have lost several players in the ongoing transfer period, and are may likely suffer against Ingwe who have boosted their squad with the inclusion of Saad Musa (from Thika United) and Ezekiel Seda (from Mathare United).

“This is a tough fixture but we have managed to play friendly games this week against teams from Miwani and Kisumu. I have some new tactics that we shall employ to make our approach different,” said Chemelil coach Charles Odera.

There will be six matches on Sunday, with a doubleheader at Camp Toyoyo where Kakamega Homeboyz will play Nakumatt before Kariobangi Sharks hosts Posta Rangers.

FIXTURES

Saturday:

AFC Leopards v Chemelil Sugar (Machakos Stadium, 3pm)

Mathare United v Vihiga United (Camp Toyoyo, 3pm)

Zoo Kericho v Sony Sugar Kericho (Green Stadium, 3pm)

Sunday:

Nakumatt v Kakamega Homeboyz (Camp Toyoyo, 11am)

Nzoia Sugar v Gor Mahia (Moi Kisumu, 3pm)

Sofapaka v Thika United (Narok Stadium, 3pm)

Tusker v Wazito (Ruaraka Grounds, 3pm)

Ulinzi Stars v Bandari (Afraha Stadium, 3pm)

Kariobangi Sharks v Posta Rangers (Camp Toyoyo, 4.15pm)