Mathare, Sharks vie for slum derby honours
What you need to know:
- Cliff Nyakeya has emerged as the chief assassin for Mathare, and he is sure to start for the slum boys as one of the attackers. Erick Kapaito and Vincent Wasambo are expected to play the same role for Sharks during the game.
- “We are making too many defensive mistakes but I am happy that the players are showing more composure especially during big matches,” said Kimanzi, who led his team to a 2-0 win over AFC Leopards last weekend.
The slum derby pitting former league champions Mathare United against domestic cup holders Kariobangi Sharks will highlight the SportPesa Premier League round of 28 matches.
This fixture, which is tremendously growing in popularity, will be staged on Wednesday at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.
Each of the two teams will be looking to get the better of each other after the first leg encounter anti-climaxed in a barren draw on January 29.
The slum derby has for years been a great talking point for local football supporters, and its popularity and stature got elevated double fold when Sharks joined the top flight three years ago.
Mathare United and Kariobangi Sharks have their roots in the Eastlands area of Nairobi, and they draw their fan bases from the Mathare and Kariobangi slums respectively.
Mathare United came to fruition in the ‘90s after several youth games and tournaments had been organised under the Mathare Youth Sports Association banner which has for long been a product of veteran football administrator Bob Munro.
Mathare got their big break in 1998 when they won the domestic cup (then referred to as the President’s Cup), after which they were promoted to the Kenyan Premier League for the first time the following year.
Kariobangi Sharks, on the other hand, was a brain child of a group of ambitious young men who established an amateur football team area which would compete in off-season football tournaments.
Current Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa was one of these men.
Both teams originate from Nairobi’s Eastlands area, but Sharks, which was formed years after Mathare United, is usually viewed as a splinter of the former.
Today the two teams will have a go at each other, with Sharks badly in need of three points in order to stop their poor run that has now seen them go eight games without victory.
“Tough times don’t last. We Shall Overcome!” Sharks midfielder Sven Yidah posted on his Twitter account ahead of the game.
Mathare will on the other hand be looking for maximum points to help them keep pace with league leaders Gor Mahia, as well as Bandari and Sofapaka, who are their other opponents in this year’s title race.
Cliff Nyakeya has emerged as the chief assassin for Mathare, and he is sure to start for the slum boys as one of the attackers. Erick Kapaito and Sydney Lokale are expected to play the same role for Sharks during the game.
“We are making too many defensive mistakes but I am happy that the players are showing more composure especially during big matches,” said Kimanzi, who led his team to a 2-0 win over AFC Leopards last weekend.
Leaders Gor Mahia will be away to Chemelil Sugar in Kisumu while AFC Leopards will be seeking to bounce back to wining ways when they host Zoo Kericho in Machakos also on Wednesday.
FIXTURES
Wednesday
Sofapaka v Western Stima (Machakos - 2pm); Vihiga United v Bandari (Bukhungu Stadium - 3pm); Mathare United v Kariobangi Sharks (Kasarani - 3pm); Chemelil Sugar v Gor Mahia (Kisumu - 4.15pm); AFC Leopards v Zoo (Machakos - 4.15pm)
Thursday
Sony Sugar v KCB (Awendo - 1pm); Nzoia Sugar v Kakamega Homeboyz (Sudi Stadium - 3pm); Ulinzi Stars v Posta Rangers (Afraha Stadium - 3pm); Mount Kenya United v Tusker (Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos - 3pm)
