It is Mashemeji derby weekend and all eyes will be on bitter rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia as they battle each other at the Nyayo National Stadium this Sunday. Ulinzi Stars will not be in action as they are in Burundi for the East Africa Military Games. They were scheduled to play Thika United, who will also be inactive.
SATURDAY
Sofapaka v Posta Rangers (Narok Stadium)
Four of Sofapaka’s last five games have seen them score more than three goals a game, and it is little wonder that they have the highest number of goals scored in the league thus far, at 32 goals.
Revenge will be very much on the minds of Batoto ba Mungu, as they lost 1-0 to Rangers in the first leg match in May.
The title chasing postmen have not won in their last three matches.
Nakumatt v Nzoia Sugar (Ruaraka Ground)
Nakumatt’s Kepha Aswani returned to his scoring ways with one strike in the retailers’ midweek 1-1 draw with Mathare, and will be looking to extend his season’s tally beyond the seven he has plundered.
Neither side has recorded a win against the other in four past meetings, and this one has a draw written all over it.
Muhoroni Youth v Chemelil Sugar (Muhoroni Stadium)
Muhoroni Youth will look to maintain their upward curve after thumping Thika 2-0 two days ago to end a four-match winless streak.
Chemelil have failed to win in their last five league outings dropping to 12th place on the log.
The first leg encounter ended in a barren draw.
SUNDAY
Kakamega Homeboyz v Tusker (Mumias Sports Complex)
Their 1-0 loss to AFC Leopards last Thursday left Tusker’s title hopes in tatters as they dropped to eighth place on the league table.
Homeboyz’ defender Charles Momanyi and his counterpart Collins Shivachi from Tusker return for this clash after each completed a one-match disciplinary ban.
The brewers achieved a 1-0 win over Homeboyz in their first leg meeting played at Ruaraka three months ago.
Bandari v Mathare United (Mbaraki Sports Club)
Whispered as relegation candidates, Mathare United are on a steady path to recovery, and are unbeaten in five consecutive games.
Chrispinus Oduor remains the most influential player in the squad enunciated by a Harambee Stars call up and capping.
Bandari have lost three matches in a row including a 3-1 loss to Sony Sugar in the quarter-finals of the GOtv Shield and will be in urgent need of confidence.
They can draw hope from their 1-0 win over Mathare in their first leg fixture.
Gor Mahia v AFC Leopards (Nyayo Stadium)
The Meshemeji Derby. This is the biggest match of the weekend, and indeed the season, and fans of both parties are gearing up for another unpredictable afternoon of passionate football.
Gor Mahia are enjoying good form and are perched proudly atop the SPL table with a six-point advantage over their nearest rivals Sofapaka.
Ingwe are enduring yet another turbulent season, but had their confidence boosted just two days ago with an upset 1-0 victory over defending champions Tusker.
Meddie Kagere, Jacques Tuyisenge and George Odhiambio are all in good form, while Aziz Okaka, Alex Kitenge and Marcelus Ingotse are the more reliable forwards in the Ingwe stable.
Revenge will surely be in the minds of Leopards. Gor crushed them 3-0 in the first leg, and again skinned them 3-0 in the final of the SportPesa Super Cup in Dar es Salaam.
Sony Sugar v Kariobangi Sharks (Awendo Green Stadium)
This will be a battle of on-form teams riding high after storming the GOtv Shield semi-finals.
Sony Sugar have been boosted by dazzling performances from Mwana Yema and veteran Amos Asembeka.
Substitute Francis Manoah showed flashes of skill for Sharks in their midweek 1-0 victory over Western Stima and could be a factor on Sunday.
Zoo Kericho v Western Stima (Kericho Green Stadium)
Their 2-1 and 1-0 losses to Tusker and Kariobangi Sharks respectively have seen Western Stima return to the bottom of the SPL table.
Zoo were beaten 6-0 by Mathare United last weekend, and suffered a 2-1 loss to Sony Sugar three days later. They will need to dig deep into their reserves to bounce back.
Zoo beat Western Stima 2-0 in the first leg.
