Leopards plot Ulinzi revenge in Top 8 weekend

Revenge will be on the cards when AFC Leopards play Ulinzi Stars for the second time in less than a week as attention turns to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Top 8 knockout tournament quarterfinals this weekend.

Their SportPesa Premier League (SPL) last Saturday at Mumias Sports Complex was abandoned with ten minutes to go after hooligans invaded the pitch to protest a second penalty awarded to the soldiers.

KPL awarded Ulinzi the match on a 2-0 score and Ingwe’s misery was further compounded when they were skinned 2-1 by Western Stima in Kisumu on Wednesday to knock them off the SPL top three.

Buoyed by the Mumias result, Ulinzi beat Chemelil Sugar 2-1 on Thursday to take Leopard’s place and Leopard’s Belgian boss, Ivan Minnaert has rallied his players to bounce back to winning ways.

“We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes we have done before now. AFC is a big club in this county and we have to bring back the glory so we need to go back to the basics find the right way to beat Ulinzi Stars which is a strong team,” Minnaert charged.

“After the Chemelil win; we feel more confident heading to the AFC match. It’s one of the titles that we want to win this season. We shall stay focused and take one game at a time,” his technical opponent, Robert Matano roared in return.

Saturday’s other quarterfinal sees second placed Tusker FC take on struggling Bandari FC who are coming after a stinging 2-0 home defeat to champions Gor Mahia.

The Docker’s coach; Twahir Muhhidin, has called upon his strikers to pull up their socks and score goals as they seek a Top 8 tonic to restore belief as a season that promised a lot when they beat K’Ogalo to win the DStv Super Cup continues to scramble.

“We have told them not to over rely on the normal team training sessions. They need to find their own extra time to train and improve on their skills,” Muhiddin told his misfiring forwards.

“Cup competition is different from league games. A good example is how Everton FC played against Manchester United and they almost knocked them out of the FA Cup.

“We are determined to defeat Tusker. We still have one more training session on Saturday that will determined if we will have some changes in the team,” the former Harambee Stars tactician added.

Gor are out to continue with their impressive form when they begin the defense of their Top 8 crown against the stubborn Ushuru FC on Monday.

K’Ogalo have won their last two SPL games and team captain; Jerim Onyango is hoping the team will maintain the upward momentum.

“We are feeling great because after starting the league on a low note. We feel we’re getting back to our best and to the position that we belong and to the win against Bandari boosted our morale ahead of the Ushuru game,” the custodian underscored.

In the first league match against Ushuru, Gor were forced to share the spoils against Ken Kenyatta’s taxmen in a 1-1 result but this time; the captain feels it will be a different game.

“We play Ushuru for the second time in less than a month and every time, we go out to rectify mistakes. As champions our aim is to retain the cup,” Onyango added.

Last year’s semifinalists Sofapaka will face play the unpredictable Muhoroni Youth in the last quarterfinal hoping to find a remedy for their horrible run in the league where they find themselves rock bottom.

“That game will be tough there is not easy match at the moment Sofapaka is a team that got four points from their last two games. They can surprise anyone so we have to be at our best,” league top-scorer, Wycliffe Ochomo who has sunk nine of Muhoroni’s 11 goals stated.

“The more I play, the more I mature in the game that is what is happening to my form at at the moment. I’m more settled here and my team mates have been supportive to me as we aim to achieve the set target for this season,” the former Gor and Ulinzi striker explained his purple patch in front of goal.

FIXTURES

Sunday

Bandari Vs Tusker FC

Ulinzi Stars Vs AFC Leopards

Monday

Sofapaka vs Muhoroni Youth

Gor Mahia vs Ushuru FC