Kitambi charged for another Leopards win, Kerr warns Nzoia

Tanzanian Dennis Kitambi will be looking to impress more in his AFC Leopards coach caretaker role, as the 12-time champions lock horns with Mathare United on Saturday, as the Kenyan Premier League enters round six.

Kitambi, who is in charge of Leopards following the suspension of head coach Robert Matano, got off the blocks with a 2-0 win over a bogey Sony Sugar in Awendo last Sunday and believes he can silence Mathare too.

He, however, acknowledges it will be an uphill task, considering the 2008 champions are the only second side in the 18-team log yet to taste defeat, apart from champions Gor Mahia.

“Mathare are enjoying top form, they have kicked off the campaign very well. We are however in a good position to tackle them if we build on this win (against Sony).

“I have told my players I can’t know everything, but I’m their leader. I welcome their ideas then I make the final decision, and that’s the spirit I believe can get us better results. We agreed they enjoy playing, which indeed they enjoyed against Sony. They were not over-cautious, which I believe worked,” told Kitambi.

A win for Mathare will see the Francis Kimanzi coached side leap into the summit of the league, albeit momentarily awaiting Gor’s result against Nzoia Sugar on Sunday.

On Thursday, Mathare thrashed National Super League (NSL) side KCB 4-2 in a warm up to the clash, set for 4:15 pm EAT (+3GMT) at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.

Maximum points

Gor’s coach Dylan Kerr has warned struggling Nzoia he will be going for a victory and nothing less, after battling to a goalless draw against Tunisia giants Esperance on Wednesday in CAF Champions League.

Kerr regretted the only draw in the league they have recorded this season against Tusker FC, having played a largely second-string team as he rested some players in the build-up to Champions League.

Going forward, Kerr asserts his charges must avoid dropping points they should not.

“We will have to fight for fight for maximum points against them (Nzoia). The pressure of the Champions League match at home is gone and we have to win here before we shift focus to the return leg.
“The boys have to be in good shape because we need a victory. This is what Gor Mahia is about and this is what we are here to work for,” he said.

Nzoia have only one win in the five past rounds, losing the rest possible 12 points which places them as under-dogs against Gor by all standards.

Coach Bernard Mwalala has called for patience among the fans as he works hard to shrug off the poor start, banking on last weekend’s 3-1 triumph over Kakamega Homeboyz.

Supremacy battle

Another exciting fixture pairs together third-placed Sofapaka FC and Kariobangi Sharks, who are just a point behind the former with eight at fourth. This will be a supremacy battle for the two sides who finished at the same order in the 2017 season, as chasing after early leaders Gor and Mathare intensifies.

Sharks, who have produced the so far leading scorer in the league Eric Kapaito (5) after his hat-trick on Sunday against Wazito FC, are ecstatic they can edge past the 2009 champions for a third spot.

“We were confident; confidence earned us three points (against Wazito last week). We need to avoid conceding in the last minutes after playing so well going forward, which has cost us points we should have won so far,” said Muluya.

Out of their five outings, on the other hand, Sofapaka have lost two matches winning three, including a 2-1 conquest over Posta Rangers last weekend.

Other pairings for the Saturday and Sunday matches will see Homeboyz lock horns with Ulinzi, Zoo Kericho versus Vihiga United, Rangers battling against Wazito while Tusker hosts Thika United at the Ruaraka Grounds on Saturday.

The action will continue on Sunday, with Bandari welcoming Sony at their Mbaraki backyard.