Mathare, Tusker braced for top of the table clash

The SportPesa Premier League (SPL) top-of-the-table clash between Mathare United and Tusker FC on Thursday headlines the midweek programme with third-placed AFC Leopards waiting to pounce in case of any slip ups.

Leopards will get the schedule underway on Wednesday when they travel to Western Stima in Kisumu where victory could see them top the standing on goal difference to pile the pressure on the Slum Boys and the Brewers who will sweat it out in Machakos.

Mathare lead the charts on 21 points ahead of Tusker (20) and Leopards 18 after ten rounds of the competition with a draw enough to retain Francis Kimanzi’s side top in their test yet against Paul Nkata’s side that is smarting from its first loss of the season when they were stunned 1-0 by Posta Rangers.

The Slum Boys failed to take maximum advantage after being held to a 1-1 stalemate by a resilient Muhoroni Youth FC missing the chance to move three clear at the top.

“We lost the game to Rangers and maybe it just wasn’t our day. On Thursday we will go on and rectify the mistakes that cost us,” Nkata said ahead of the clash.

Leopards, who were on the receiving end of the decision by the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to award Ulinzi Stars their abandoned match following fan violence in Mumias, have now picked only four points from a possible 12 and are in dire need to victory to stop the wheels of their title-charge coming off.

“We rebuke hooliganism. It’s something that disheartens us and as a club we are already looking for those who were involved in the acts of hooliganism we witnessed. They will be dealt with accordingly,” Leopards co-chairman, Daniel Mule told Citizen Digital.

“We are going to meet them on Thursday (KPL) but if they are not going to be fair for us then we will appeal against their decision,” he added ahead of their hearing before the Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee (IDCC) where Leopards have been summoned to respond to four charges.

SPL champions Gor Mahia who also face an IDCC hearing on the same day over hooliganism travel to Mombasa to face Bandari FC who are unbeaten at home in a showdown between the stuttering pre-season title favourites.

The 15-time champions have been unconvincing this season and have been highly dependent on their expensively acquired Rwandese striker Jacques Tuyisenge.

K’Ogalo find themselves seven points adrift from the leaders and Head Coach Marcelo ‘Ze Maria’ Ferreira will hope his side can start to perform as team with midterm approaching.

In other matches on Thursday, Ushuru play Rangers at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium at 2pm, Ulinzi host Chemelil Sugar at Nakuru’s Afraha while at the Awendo Green, hosts Sony Sugar will play sixth-placed Kakamega Homeboyz.

Thika United host Sofapaka FC.