Ushuru keen to avoid play-off as NSL gets underway
What you need to know:
- They have twice come close to promotion but fell in the play-offs to Thika United in 2017 and Mt Kenya United (formerly Nakumatt) in 2018
- Migori's only draw against Ushuru came on September 9 this year when it ended goalless between these two sides
- Newly promoted Shabana travel to Nakuru to face St Josephs Youth while debutants Fortune Sacco and Eldoret Youth face Kenya Police and Talanta respectively
After losing twice in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) promotion/relegation play-off, Ushuru begin their third consecutive season in the National Super League (NSL) on Saturday at the Camp Toyoyo grounds against Migori Youth.
The taxmen will be hoping to finish in the two automatic promotion slots this season after the play-off proved tricky to navigate in the last two seasons. They were relegated from the KPL in 2016 after finishing second from bottom.
They have twice come close to promotion but fell in the play-offs to Thika United in 2017 and Mt Kenya United (formerly Nakumatt) in 2018.
Ken Kenyatta's charges have a good record against Migori Youth formerly known as Isibania. They have won three of the four encounters with the last two visits by the Migori-based side ending in identical 2-0 defeats.
Migori's only draw against Ushuru came on September 9 this year when it ended goalless between these two sides.
Salim Babu was in charge of Migori Youth then and he will certainly be eyeing better tidings this season after narrowly surviving the chop last season. He can draw confidence from Ushuru's loss of their top marksmen Anthony Ndolo, Bill Oporia and Benson Amianda in the current transfer window.
In other matches, Coast Stima host Thika United on Sunday at Mbaraki while new-look Modern Coast Rangers welcome Green Commandos at Serani.
Newly promoted Shabana travel to Nakuru to take on St Josephs Youth while debutants Fortune Sacco and Eldoret Youth face Kenya Police and Talanta respectively.
Nairobi Stima, who narrowly missed out on the play-off spot last season, visit Bidco United in Thika on Monday.
Fixtures:
Saturday
Ushuru vs Migori Youth (Camp Toyoyo, 3pm), Kenya Police vs Fortune Sacco (Karuturi Grounds, 1pm), St Josephs Youth vs Shabana (Afraha Stadium, 3pm)
Sunday
FC Talanta vs Eldoret Youth (Camp Toyoyo, 2pm), Kangemi All Stars vs Kibera Black Stars (Camp Toyoyo, 4:15pm), Coast Stima vs Thika United (Mbaraki Sports Club, 3pm), Modern Coast Rangers vs Green Commandos (Serani Sports Ground, 3pm), Kisumu All Stars vs Administration Police (Moi Stadium Kisumu, 3pm), Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito (Hope Center, 3pm);
Monday
Bidco United vs Nairobi Stima (Thika Stadium, 3pm).
