Gor, Ulinzi clash in KPL midweek action
Ulinzi Stars' midfielder Daniel Waweru (left) tracks Gor Mahia forward George Odhiambo (right) during their Sportpesa Premier league match at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on June 23, 2018. PHOTO | AYUB MUIYURO |
What you need to know:
- Champions Gor Mahia are scheduled to face Ulinzi Stars at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos even as the players’ boycott due to unpaid August salary and bonuses accumulating to eight matches continues unabated
- The soldiers beat Wazito 1-0 last weekend to rise to fourth place on the log with 47 points
- Wednesday’s match will therefore bear more significance to the soldiers who are also preparing to face Kariobangi Sharks in the semi-finals of the SportPesa Shield this weekend
Three midweek matches have been lined up on Wednesday as the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) heads into the homestretch.
Sofapaka, who lost their bid for the 2018 SPL title to current champions Gor Mahia, will be up against Kakamega Homeboyz in Narok, as bottom placed Thika United engage Tusker at the Thika Sub-county Stadium.
Champions Gor Mahia are scheduled to face Ulinzi Stars at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos even as the players’ boycott due to unpaid August salary and bonuses accumulating to eight matches continues unabated.
The strike saw the team abscond duty for the whole of last week, a move that cost them three points against Thika United last weekend in Thika.
That 1-0 loss was their second defeat of the season, but the three points were a great boost for Thika who are knee-deep in relegation.
“The players gave their all in this match but it was going to be difficult to prepare for this match without training," griped Gor coach Dylan Kerr after that match.
The loss however took nothing away from K’Ogalo’s status as 17-time champions, as the team had already secured the SPL title last month with six matches to go.
Wednesday’s match will therefore bear more significance to the soldiers who are also preparing to face Kariobangi Sharks in the semi-finals of the SportPesa Shield this weekend.
The soldiers beat Wazito 1-0 last weekend to rise to fourth place on the log with 47 points, and coach Dunstan Nyaudo has said that another win will be crucial in their quest to finish second.
“The Gor game is a good one for us because Gor have nothing much to play for after winning the league, while we will be out to play for a better position so it will be an entertaining match.
“But of course the most important game in our schedule is the (Kariobangi) Sharks game. We have to be at our best for these matches because we are playing in very tight timelines and it is not easy. The players will be worn out but we have to do this because a lot of what we have done in the season will be hinged on these matches,” he said.
Kerr’s charges won 2-0 in the first leg clash.
Fixtures:
Gor Mahia v Ulinzi Stars (Machakos Stadium, 2pm)
Thika United v Tusker (Thika Stadium, 3pm)
Sofapaka v Kakamega Homeboyz (Narok Stadium, 4pm)
