Nakumatt presents Kerr his KPL debut at Gor

Gor Mahia Coach Dylan Kerr is eyeing a triumphant Kenyan Premier League (KPL) debut as his tenure at Kenya’s most successful club truly begins.

Gor’s league clash against Nakumatt FC on Sunday will mark the Englishman’s first domestic match in charge of the 15-time champions and will be hoping to make instant impact.

Kerr’s managerial debut came in their 2-1 defeat to Everton in Dar es Salaam in a display that received positive reviews but while the result of that friendly at the Tanzanian commercial port city counted for nothing, the next ones will.

At the den, Robert Matano is hoping AFC Leopards will not rest on their laurels after charging them to two consecutive wins, sinking Bandari 1-0 away in Mombasa before kicking out National Super League (NSL) side Bidco United with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, in Shield Cup.

Leaders Ulinzi Stars will be entertaining Nzoia Sugar at home, in  a must win situation if they are to remain in the summit considering  a Gor win, and, either champions Tusker FC or Posta Rangers who clash in Meru on Sunday.

Struggling Mathare United faces pretty stable Kakamega Homeboyz, with the former champions coach Francis Kimanzi noting the need for a ‘turn around’ after a poor run which has left them at the bottom of the spectrum.

-Gor respect-

Having taken over from interim coach Zedikiah ‘Zico’ Otieno who managed no win since the exit of former Brazilian Jose Marcelo ‘Ze Maria’ Fereirra, Kerr’s is under no illusion the expectations of the fans are title and nothing less.

“No doubt people expect us to win and keep winning. You look at the previous record and you know why, the respect they have earned across Africa.

“My intention is to have them (players) understand my philosophy as we work with the rest of the technical bench for results,” said Kerr in a past interview.

Gor welcomes back captain Musa Mohammed who has completed his suspension, with the fans ecstatic to see how the new coach parades his first team.

“You will see when we resume the league; we have many players who are fighting to fit in the first team. We like it when that spirit is there but you know different matches have different approaches,” told Kerr.

Nakumatt is perched at ninth, six points and places below Gor each having two matches in hand.

-Matano Factor-

Leopards will be without Harambee Stars defender Robinson Kamura as they face stubborn Stima, after the former Mather United’s defender was involved in an accident on Friday morning.

The club confirmed the motorbike he was riding on was hit by a car along Thika Road and was rushed to hospital, ruling him out of Saturday’s match pending medical assessment.

The absence of the Ingwe free kick specialist leaves a dent in Ingwe’s defense line at a time Matano is under pressure to sustain his good start since his return to the den.

On Wednesday as Leopards beat Bidco, fans at the Thika Sub County Stadium heaped praise on the league winner with Sofapaka in 2009 singing ‘Matano facor works wonders’.

The club had gone winless in nine matches before his arrival, casting doubts on their topflight survival.

However, Stima has always been a difficult nut to crack for the 13-time champions, making the ‘Western derby’ more interesting for Matano. In the last 16 meetings, Stima has won seven while Leopards has won six.

“The players have really impressed, because we did not effectively train last week as most of my players came back sick from Mombasa after Bandari’s match.

“I could however see an amazing spirit in the team today (Wednesday). We can only get better at this point, and I am sure we will hit our target,” Matano charged.

The last Ingwe’s win over Stima came in September 2015, with the last meeting ending in a 0-0 stalemate.

Stuck at 16th after a poor start into the season, Stima is lurking for a win against Ingwe that could catapult them from relegation zone.

“We will fight. We know they are coming from two morale boosting wins but we also have to work hard because time is not on our side.

“We have to win matches and jump to where we belong in the league,” the power men’s coach Henry Omino warned.

Their last outing which saw them sink Tusker 1-0 is a statement, according to Omino, that they are will edge Ingwe.

-Must win-

While Ulinzi are keen to consolidate their lead, their opponents Nzoia Sugar have vowed to gun down the soldiers in a ‘redeeming mission’ of the last match of the season first half.

“We can’t afford any further slips because if we keep dropping, then we get ourselves to relegation battle which is dangerous.

“We have been unlucky in some of our matches that we played well and deserved to win. I have told them (players) we must work extra harder because from the start we showed we can take on anybody,” head coach Bernard Mwalala said.

The reigning NSL champions have not won in the last five outings.

In other weekend actions, Chemelil Sugar will battle against Thiak United, Sofapaka versus Muhoroni, while Kariobangi Sharks host Zoo Kericho.

In the only match played on Friday, Bandari FC overcame hosts Sony Sugar 1-0 courtesy of Baron Oketch strike.

Sony however finished the match with nine men after Abdalla Hassan and Justin Omary were sent off, the former seeing a straight red card while the latter was shown two yellow cards.