NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21 – Bottom placed Mahakama will be hope it is 13th time lucky when they face Red Berets in a Kenya Premier League clash at City Stadium on Sunday at 4 pm.Earlier, KCB will host Chemilil Sugar from 2pm at the same venue.
The Justice Boys are yet to win a match and though it’s still early in the season, their clash against fellow strugglers Berets will be viewed as a relegation six-pointer as a win for one will leave the loser deep in the mire.
Mahakama got a credible 1-1 draw at Ulinzi last weekend but if they are to survive, they must be winning games. Coach Sammy Omollo is under intense pressure to find a solution, and fast.
Their biggest weakness has been lack of a finisher to turn their beautiful approach play into goals. Joseph Mbugi has been their shining beacon of hope but they will need more from the misfiring strikers if they are to get that elusive win.
They face a Red Berets side buoyed by climbing out of the relegation zone last weekend. Though it’s only on goal difference, the 1-0 win over Karuturi will have given the paramilitary side immense self belief.
Coach Caleb Okuku will hope that Joseph Asudza, who has scored twice in the last two matches, Dickson Ojwang, goalkeeper Wycliffe Kasaya and the evergreen Nyangicha Nyaberi can continue their revival.
In the 2pm kick off, ninth-placed KCB will look to build on last weekend’s win over Gor Mahia when they face Chemilil.
The Bankers have lost two and drawn one of their last four matches and coach Leonard Saleh is looking to rekindle the form and panache that saw them start the season on fire.
Daniel Waweru, Mzitto Oyando, Dan Oluoch, Joseph Apindi and Ezekiel Odera will provide the backbone for the Bankers.
The Sugarmen have not played for two weekends after they failed to honour their tie against Thika because of a row over officials and then had their match against Sofapaka postponed last weekend because the champions are away in Rwanda.
But having resolved their boardroom issues, it’s time to get going on the pitch.
A reluctant appointee, coach Mike Mururi seems to be finding his feet after a torrid start to the season and he will call on the exciting striker Tony Opondo, Kevin “Keegan” Ngugi, and Wycliffe Opondo to find a way past the Bankers.