NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 26 – The 2023-24 season of the FKF Premier League officially kicks off Saturday, with several entertaining fixtures lined up, top of the bill being defending champions Gor Mahia taking on Sofapaka at the Kasarani Stadium
K’Ogalo will be seeking a record extending 21st top tier crown, and a positive start against 2009 champions Batoto ba Mungu will set them off nicely on the sail.
Gor have had a quiet pre-season, choosing to prepare mostly at home with local friendly matches, especially after missing out on the CAF Champions League.
Head coach Jonathan McKinstry will have several new faces in his squad, among them being the returning Lawrence Juma and new boy Kevin Juma signed from Nzoia Sugar. The two are expected to form a new midfield partnership.
In defense, former Wazito FC right back Rooney Onyango will offer some new lease of life in a position that they at times struggled in last season.
Meanwhile, Sofapaka are almost an entirely new outfit, with new coach Francis Harigingo arriving with 19 new players.
Top of the arrivals list for the 2009 champions is striker Abdul Razak Fiston who has returned to the club after eight years. Sofapaka have also had a quiet pre-season and their last build up match was a 1-1 draw with Tusker FC.
Meanwhile, Tusker will be away in Mombasa, starting their campaign against Bandari FC. The brewers lost the league title by a point last season, and are also on the rebuild with the departure of several first team players.
Tusker have a relatively young squad with them, and will be looking to be up and running well down at the Coast, against a Bandari side that is also yearning for a new lease of life.
The two sides both had decent pre-seasons with tours in Tanzania, Bandari playing Coastal Union in Tanga and Azam FC in Dar es Salaam on top of other friendly matches locally while Tusker were in Arusha for a week, playing against the same Coastal Union and second division side Mbuni FC, leaving with no win.
Assistant captain Michael Kibwage, expected to start alongside Charles Momanyi in defense, says they want to start well.
“Bandari is a good team and are tough especially playing at home. But we have prepared well and everyone is focused on getting a good result,” said the defender.
Meanwhile in Nairobi, star-studded Kenya Police FC get their campaign underway against a very youthful Kariobangi Sharks, looking to make an early statement of intent.
The uniformed forces have had one of the best pre-season engagements, playing friendly matches in Tanzania and Rwanda.
FKF Premier League Saturday fixtures (all matches kick off at 3pm):
Bandari FC vs Tusker FC (Mbaraki Complex, Mombasa), Nzoia Sugar vs Ulinzi Stars (Sudi Stadium, Bungoma), Gor Mahia vs Sofapaka (Kasarani Stadium), Kenya Police FC vs Kariobangi Sharks (Kasarani Annex)
