Will Tusker rebound from their shock loss to newcomers Nzoia Sugar? A rather unknown quality AFC Leopards takes to the field for the first time in this season’s league while reinstated Muhoroni Youth and Sofapaka will want to prove a point as they test top flight action for the first time this year.
SATURDAY
Posta Rangers vs Bandari (Thika County Stadium)
Both teams cruised to identical 1-0 wins in their opening matches.
Bandari have an intimidating squad made up of the likes of newcomers Lucas Indeche, Enock Agwanda, Jacob Keli and Noah Abich, and accomplished regulars Danny Sserunkuma and Anthony Kimani.
Posta Rangers’ new signing Eric Kibiru will be facing his former employers.
Antony Wambani misses this match for Bandari on a red card suspension, same as Gilbert Onsongaof Rangers.
The dockers picked four points from Rangers last season, starting with a 1-1 draw in their first encounter in April and a 1-0 win in the October return match.
Gor Mahia vs Zoo Kericho (Moi Stadium)
This will be the very first meeting between these two sides, and Zoo will have to be at their very best if they are to pick any points against the formidable 15-time league winners.
Twenty-sixteen KPL Most Valuable Player Kenneth Muguna and Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza dazzled for K’Ogalo last weekend as they dispatched Kariobangi Sharks 3-1, and will want to pick up from where they left off.
Newbies Zoo Kericho will look to the experience of veteran Andrew Ongwae who was acquired from Shabana at the beginning of this year.
Chemelil Sugar vs Kakamega Homeboyz (Chemelil Stadium)
Chemelil secured a 2-0 win over Sony Sugar away in Awendo last weekend, and, you feel, they will be brimming with confidence.
Award winning goalkeeper Jairus Adira, who spent the last half of the 2016 season at Homeboyz, is now back at Chemelil where he has been installed as the team’s first choice custodian.
Homeboyz have assembled a formidable squad that has veterans Wycliffe Ochomo and Francis Ocholla as well as former AFC Leopards striker Lamine Diallo and former Bandari defender Abdulatif Omar on their side and will fancy their chances.
The two sides traded identical 1-0 wins in their league encounters last season.
Nzoia Sugar vs Mathare United (Sudi Stadium)
Newly promoted side Nzoia United defied their underdog status in their opening league match last weekend to stun defending champions Tusker 5-2 in Afraha.
Can their momentum carry them past another seasoned side in 2008 league champions Mathare United? They possess the league top scorer in Brian Otieno with two goals to his name.
SUNDAY
Thika United vs Tusker (Thika County Stadium)
Tusker faltered and collapsed badly in their opening match against Nzoia United and must surely win this match if only to convince pundits and their fans that they are worthy of defending their title -and to restore their battered pride.
They are, however, facing a Thika United side that has vowed to win this second match of the season after falling 3-2 to Mathare at home.
Tusker’s new signing Vincent Omumbo is likely to be summoned by his coach George “Best” Nsimbe.
Nakumatt vs AFC Leopards (Thika County Stadium)
This will be coach Stewart Hall’s first Premier League match this season and AFC Leopards fans are waiting with bated breath to see what his newly assembled squad can exhibit.
New signings Gilbert Fiamenyo from Ghana, Whyvonne Isuza and Robinson Kamura from Mathare United are some of the players in the Ingwe den to watch out for.
Ingwe’s other new signing Vincent Oburu is however likely to sit out this match since Gor Mahia are also laying claim to him.
Nakumatt are making their debut in the Premier League and will want to bounce from their opening 1-0 loss to Bandari.
New Nakumatt players Kepha Aswani, Cresten Mwanzo, Eugene Ambulwa and Jack Bruno will relish a go at their former club in this match.
Muhoroni Youth vs Kariobangi Sharks (Muhoroni Stadium)
After months of uncertainty, Muhoroni Youth are back in the league and will feel capable of handling newly promoted Kariobangi Sharks.
The challenge for Muhoroni, though, will be the fact that they have been forced to make a complete overhaul of their team of last season after losing 13 of their regular players.
Sharks lost 3-1 to Gor Mahia in their opening match, but they showed glimpses of promise with newly signed veterans Osborne Monday and Ibrahim Kitawi outstanding.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides in their history, at least at this level.
Sofapaka vs Sony Sugar (Afraha Stadum)
Sofapaka barely survived relegation last season and will be keen to start with bang on this day.
Faithful old boy John Baraza is now head coach at Batoto ba Mungu, and they have attracted a host of veteran players the likes of Charles Okwemba, Moses Odhiambo, Collins Kisuya and Humphrey Okoti.
Sony are smarting from their 2-0 home loss to Chemelil and will need to quickly regroup against the 2009 champions.
