Wounded Bandari, Leopards Hunt SportPesa Premier League Redemption

NAIROBI, Kenya- Wounded Bandari FC and AFC Leopards SC clash in Mombasa seeking to bounce back in the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) where leaders Mathare United FC are out to put daylight at the top when they play basement side Mt. Kenya United FC.

The other highlights are the ‘Western Derby’ between Kakamega Homeboyz FC and Vihiga United FC at the venue nicknamed  Estadio de Bukhungu in Kakamega as well as the sugar millers showdown between Nzoia United FC and Sony Sugar FC in Bungoma.

Fresh from engaging in the much hyped ‘Slum Derby’ against Sharks which ended in a 0-0 stalemate, Mathare are out to consolidate their lead at the top in their encounter against  bottom placed Mt. Kenya United FC in one of the double header games at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Saturday.

League top scorer, Cliff Nyakeya is looking forward to stretch his goal tally of five when the 2008 champions and log leaders entertain the winless basement side at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

MUST READ: Homeboyz Thrash SportPesa Cup Finalists Bandari, Leopards Fall

Mathare who lead the standing on 24 points, six ahead of Bandari have the chance to put pressure on the chasing pack with victory over opponents who lie a massive 21 adrift having scored only eight goals in the competition.

Mt. Kenya who preserved their SPL status by winning the first and second division play-off over Ushuru FC have only avoided defeat thrice in nine but conscious of the latest giant killing acts in the league, Mathare can ill afford to be complacent in Nakuru.

Beaten SportPesa Cup finalist Bandari suffered their first loss of the season when they were humiliated 0-4 by Homeboyz in Kakamega on Wednesday in a result which saw them fail to narrow the gap between them and league leaders Mathare United FC who have opened a five point lead at the top.

However, their 18-point haul from nine games places them well on course to repeat their record runner-up finish from last season with head coach Bernard Mwalala out to lift the Dockers who are coming off two loses in a row.

Bandari surrendered 0-1 to compatriots Kariobangi Sharks FC in the 2019 SportPesa Cup decider in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania last Sunday. 

MUST READ: Leopards Appeal Against Simba Turned Down

Leopards too were caged 0-1 by struggling Zoo Kericho FC to halt their charge away from the danger zone with the glamour club sitting 12th on 10, three above the drop zone as the 12-time league winners continue their uninspiring start to the season.

Anything other than victory at the Mbaraki Sports Complex will only serve to increase the unrest at The Den with Serbian head coach, Marko Vasiljevic, under pressure to deliver results for the success-starved team that crashed out in the quarterfinals of the SP Cup in Dar.

All eyes at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega will be on Homeboyz interim head coach and seasoned striker, Allan Wanga who became an Internet and online chat rooms sensation after selecting himself against Bandari and notching a brace in their resounding victory. 

MUST READ: SportPesa Cup Kings Sharks, Log Leaders Mathare Battle To Stalemate

The Kenya international will be hoping to notch a second successive victory at the venue christened 'Estadio de Bukhungu' by wags online when his side welcomes Western neighbours Vihiga who are languishing in 15th.

Speaking on Wednesday, Wanga stated he was a ‘leader’ not a coach after he was given the interim role by club chairman, Cleophas Shimanyula following their parting of ways with Ugandan Paul Nkata.

Kenyans poured on social media to hail the striker who has so far notched 22 goals in 44 appearances for national team Harambee Stars.

MUST READ: This Is Why Wanga, Slum Derby Set Social Media Alight

Victory for 10th-placed Homeboyz has the potential of seeing them break into the top six and pull their neighbouring rivals closer to the drop zone depending on other results.

Vihiga only managed to starve off SPL relegation in the last six games of the 2018 season and the club has been dogged with talks of being sold off to new suitor.

Bungoma residents are in wait for the ‘Sugar Derby’  involving Nzoia Sugar FC against Sony Sugar FC at Sudi Stadium on Sunday afternoon with the teams locked level on 14 points apiece. 

The former are ahead on goal difference in eighth with their cane-cutting rivals a spot behind.

KCB FC and Zoo who stunned local giants- champions Gor Mahia FC and Leopards- in that order meet at Kericho Green looking for their second wins in a row.

The record 17-time league winners will sit out the weekend domestic action as they lock horns with Cairo giants Zamalek FC on Sunday in a CAF Confederations Cup Group D opener at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

MUST READ: Nyakeya Tops Scoring Chart, Mathare Consolidate SPL Lead

SPL  Fixtures

Saturday

Mt.Kenyatta United FC vs Mathare United FC - Afraha Stadium -2pm

Posta Rangers FC vs Tusker FC- Machakos- 3pm

Ulinzi Stars vs Chemelil Sugar FC- Afraha Stadium- 4.15pm

Sunday 

Kakamega Homeboyz FC vs Vihiga United FC- Bukhungu Stadium- 3pm

Zoo Kericho FC vs KCB- Green Stadium- 3pm

Nzoia Sugar FC vs Sony Sugar FC- Sudi Stadium- 3pm 

Bandari FC vs AFC Leopards SC- Mbaraki Stadium- 3pm

Sofapaka FC vs Kariobangi Sharks FC- Kenyatta Stadium- 3pm