SPL Round 20: Tusker Out To Disarm Ulinzi, Gor Set For Bandari Duel

NAIROBI, Kenya- Ulinzi Stars FC go into the Kenya Premier League (KPL) round 20 with the intention of making it five consecutive wins but face an uphill task going up against leaders Tusker FC on Sunday.

The soldiers are currently in fourth place on the competitive log with 34 points, three behind the brewers who are seeking a first league title since 2016.

Elvis Nandwa, Kelvin Thairu and George Omondi are set to be released by Ulinzi in order to attend military training but coach Ben Nyangweso remains confident ahead of the fixture.

Tusker will need to bag all three points if they are to maintain their lead at the top as second place Kakamega Homeboyz FC (36) and third place Gor Mahia FC (35) are following close-by.

Homeboyz will be away to Kariobangi Sharks FC on Saturday as they seek to continue their pursuit of a maiden KPL title.

Sharks have only managed two wins in the 2019/20 KPL campaign and are in 12th place with 13 points and even a win will not change their placing on the table.

Champions Gor resume action on the back of a resounding 4-0 thrashing of basement club Chemelil Sugar FC (4) and take on a coach-less Bandari FC.

Bandari (18) parted ways with coach Bernard Mwalala and are currently under the interim charge of Technical Director and former Harambee Stars tactician Twahir Muhiddin.

The dockers are on a two-match losing streak and will need to rediscover their form if they are to topple the record league winners who are hunting for a fourth straight crown.

Kisumu All Stars FC (8) have the worst run in the league, with eight straight defeats and it does not get easier for the newcomers as they prepare for an acid test against AFC Leopards SC on Saturday at the Moi Stadium.

Leopards are in seventh place with 28 points and boast having the league’s top scorer John Mark Makwatta in their squad, who has scored an unmatched 12 goals in 17 appearances.

The double-header set for the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday begins with a match pitting moneybags Wazito FC going up against Posta Rangers FC.

Ninth-place Posta (25) will be confident as they face a Wazito (11) side who have lost their last six matches, most recently a 2-0 loss to Leopards leaving them facing the dreaded axe back to the National Super League (NSL).

The last kick-off of the day sees fifth-place Kenya Commercial Bank FC (KCB) take on a stubborn Western Stima FC (32).

The bankers have been impressive this season under the tutelage of Harambee Stars assistant coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run.

Two points separate both sides as they battle to maintain their top-five placement on the log.

SPL WEEKEND FIXTURES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 (All matches kick off at 3pm unless stated)

Wazito FC vs Posta Rangers FC -2pm

Chemelil Sugar FC vs Sofapaka FC

Gor Mahia FC vs Bandari FC

Kariobangi Sharks FC vs Kakamega Homeboyz FC

Kisumu All Stars FC vs AFC Leopards SC

Nzoia Sugar FC vs Zoo FC

KCB FC vs Western Stima FC- 4:15pm

SUNDAY

Tusker FC vs Ulinzi Stars FC- 2pm