NAIROBI, August 5 – A lot will be on the mind of Mathare United coach Francis Kimanzi this week, as he plots how to consolidate his squad’s position at the top of the Kenya Premier League table, after losing to World Hope in their last fixture.
With only a single point separating Mathare and second placed Sony Sugar, Kimanzi might be having sleepless nights as his next fixture – against defending champions, Tusker FC – won’t be an easy walk in the park, considering Tusker’s form after they won the CECAFA Club Cup Championship trophy in Tanzania.
World Hope’s Ken Oliech who is enjoying his stint as a new signing with the slum-based club scored the lone goal that sunk the leaders in the seventh minute.
The victory for World Hope follows a well played out revenge for them after falling 3-1 to Mathare United two months ago.
The defeat has put pressure on Mathare with second placed Sony Sugar breathing down their necks after picking a point in Chemelil in a barren draw.
Traditional giants Gor Mahia’s woes seem to translate more into worrisome results even after the exit of Oliech and new coach James Siang’a losing his second game in charge.
The mighty Kogalo, stay below the table mid-line after a 0-2 loss to Thika United to stay in 12th position in the standings.
Gor had also lost 0-1 to Sher Karuturi the previous weekend, signaling their striking problems.
As for the happy lot on the table at the moment is bottom favourites Mahakama, who had a reason to celebrate a 4-0 thumping of coast boys Bandari at Nyayo National Stadium shifting base from the floor of the table for the first time.
Red Berets should have reason to worry after going down 1-2 to visiting Agro-Chemicals on Saturday.
The result pushed Berets to the bottom of the standings, replacing Mahakama. With the competition gathering momentum, Berets have a Herculean task of getting off the bottom.
Newly crowned regional champions Tusker failed to go past Sher Karuturi away in Naivasha, picking only a point after the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
FIXTURES
9 AUGUST
16:00 MATHARE UNITED V TUSKER
16:00 SONY SUGAR V MAHAKAMA
16:00 RED BERETS V KCB
10 AUGUST
16:00 SHER KARUTURI V CHEMELIL SUGAR
16:00 BANDARI V THIKA UNITED
16:00 AGRO-CHEMICALS V WESTERN STIMA
16:00 WORLD HOPE V MATHARE YOUTH
16:00 ULINZI STARS V GOR MAHIA
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