Leopards Hunt Stima Salvation, Bandari Set Sail For SPL Summit

NAIROBI, Kenya- The abridged SportPesa Premier League (SPL) weekend programme will have effects at both ends of the standings with Bandari FC seeking to go back top when they travel to Chemelil Sugar FC on Saturday afternoon.

The Dockers (32) trail leaders Sofapaka FC by only a point in third-place and will be hoping not to let another opportunity to take charge slip after going winless in their last three, dropping eight crucial points that could have seen Bernard Mwalala's side well clear of the chasing pack.

At the other end of the table, beleaguered 12-time league winners, AFC Leopards SC (16) are in dire need of a positive result when they host seventh-placed Western Stima FC (26) to uproot the proud club that sits two places off the bottom from the relegation zone.

The mouth-watering clash between champions Gor Mahia FC (32) who are in second above Bandari FC on goal-difference and 2010 winners, Ulinzi Stars FC (22) who are languishing in 10th originally set for Saturday at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru has been pushed back.

At the Chemelil Complex, Bandari, who finished last season in second, their highest ever finish in the domestic top flight will be hoping to arrest a poor run that has seen them draw 0-0 with Mathare United FC before going down 1-2 to Ulinzi and 0-2 to Sony Sugar FC in a midweek clash ahead of Saturday's fixture.

Their last victory came on February 23 when they squeezed a 1-0 win over struggling Nzoia Sugar and Mwalala will be keen for his team not to throw away more vital points as they aim to win a first league title in their history. 

Chemelil (17) are in 14th and a victory against Bandari would see them move up three places even further away from the dreaded relegation zone as the second half of the SPL season gets rolling for some teams.

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Leopards face a Stima side that are on the worst run of form they have experienced since being promoted back into the top flight at the start of the 2018/19 season having not won in the last five after briefly charging to the top of the standings.

Ingwe showed brief signs of recovery when they won two in a row, 1-0 over Sony before they sunk Tusker FC 2-1 before leaders Sofapaka brought them crashing down to earth with a 0-1 reverse on their last outing on March 19.

Leopards Rwandese head coach, Andre Casa Mbungo who recently welcomed Kenya international David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng’ to the Den, knows he has little honeymoon time left at the demanding club should results not start going their way soon.

Ochieng' is still working on forming a solid defensive partnership with club top scorer Robinson Kamura to fix up their leaky defense- with the fact a centre half leads their goal count a subject of concern for Casa Bungo.

The only match slated for Sunday sees newcomers Kenya Commercial Bank FC (19) take on Posta Rangers FC (16) at the Kenyatta Stadium in a showdown where both teams in 12th and 15th will be seeking to inch closer to the top 10 with victory.

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SPL WEEKEND FIXTURES (All fixtures kick off at 3pm)

Saturday

Chemelil Sugar FC vs Bandari FC – Chemelil Sports Complex

AFC Leopards SC vs Western Stima FC – Kenyatta Stadium

Sunday

Posta Rangers FC vs KCB FC – Kenyatta Stadium