NAIROBI, Kenya, August 18-League leaders Ulinzi Stars face an inform Gor Mahia in a mouthwatering Kenya Premier League midweek clash at the Nyayo National stadium on Wednesday night.
The army men currently have a two point lead and a win will increase it to five while Gor could leapfrog Mathare United and move into fourth place should they emerge victorious.
Wednesday’s match will be an intriguing clash of styles with the sleek passing and movement of the enterprising and youthful Gor side up against the more physical, robust and direct approach by Ulinzi.
Mighty Kogalo as Gor are popularly known will again be without key personnel as Anthony Akumu and Musa Mohammed are all away on national team duty with the under 20s in Eritrea.
Coach Zedekiah Otieno will thus shuffle his pack to compensate for their absence with Francis Ocholla, Collins Okoth and Wycliffe Onyango set to play a role while George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, Kevin Omondi, Francis Ocholla and Baldwin Ngwa will provide the spine of the side.
Though Kogalo are in good nick with two wins and a draw in their last three matches, they will be wary of playing at Nyayo – a stadium where they have won only one match out of seven this season; drawing five and losing one.
Having been top or thereabouts for most of the season, Ulinzi will provide a stern test for the home side. Coached by Benjamin Nyangweso who took over from Sammy Simiyu, the army men are stealthily marching towards the crown with three wins in their last four matches.
Their strongest point has been their miserly defence which has conceded 13 goals in 19 matches with Goalkeeper Francis Ochieng, Mulinge Munandi, Hussein Mohammed in imperious form.
Former Thika midfielder Stephen Ocholla has been key in midfield while veteran Tom Ogweno will lead the forward line with Lawrence Owino, Ibrahim Ismael and Kevin Simiyu in support.
Ulinzi won the first leg 1-0 in a match played in Oserian.
