Posta lurking as leaders Mathare seek to switch Stima off

After a solid start to the 2016 SportPesa Premier League, promoted side Posta Rangers are emerging as the dark horse in the title race ahead of this weekend’s fixtures where they are out to make a telling statement by slaying fast-fading AFC Leopards.

Sunday will also witness log leaders, Mathare United take on Western Stima in a day that could alter the summit with only three points separating the Slum Boys (22) and fourth placed Ulinzi Stars ahead of the 12th round of competition.

“Any team in the league is good team and that’s why they are there. Beating Ulinzi is not a big deal; it is like just any other win.

“We want to keep on winning as many matches as possible while avoiding the pressure of beating the so called teams,” Posta coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno said after his team handed Ulinzi a first league loss a fortnight ago.

The former Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia boss is however; silently optimistic he can finally land the title that eluded him in 2010 when he led K’Ogalo to second.

Posta have lost only once in 11 outings and are on course to emulate Bundesliga 2 (second-tier) side FC Kaiserslautern who won promotion back to the Bundesliga two seasons after being axed in 1998 and went on to win the title in 1999 to make German history.

The mailmen take on a stuttering Leopards side that have plummeted from top to fifth after two straight league defeats and turmoil at the Den.

Belgian boss, Ivan Minnaert, has reportedly axed 10 players with more claims suggesting he has lost his dressing room.

Mathare coach, Francis Kimanzi, has meanwhile, quashed any suggestions his team was primed to bag a second crown since he led them to the 2008 honours as he prepares his side to face Stima who piled more misery on Ingwe by hitting them 2-1 in the last round.

“Going forward we shall take each match at a time. We are not even into the mid season so title talk is a joke.

“We just need to keep up the spirit and avoid dropping points. I would have loved to win all matches but even when I get a point like today, we appreciate and look forward to the next game,” the former Stars coach told Citizen Digital after their pulsating 2-2 draw with Tusker FC in Machakos.

-Champions rising-

Wyclif Nyangechi (L) of Muhoroni Youth FC tackle Gor Mahia FC captain Musa Mohamed during their SportPesa Premier League match at the Nyayo National stadium on October 25, 2015 at the Nyayo National stadium on October 25, 2015. Gor Mahia FC won 2-0. Photo/ Stafford Ondego/Sportpicha
Wyclif Nyangechi (L) of Muhoroni Youth FC tackle Gor Mahia FC captain Musa Mohamed during their SportPesa Premier League match at the Nyayo National Stadium on October 25, 2015 at the Nyayo National stadium on October 25, 2015. Gor Mahia FC won 2-0. Photo/ Stafford Ondego/Sportpicha

Resurgent titleholders Gor Mahia are at their second home in Kisumu to host tricky Muhoroni Youth, a side that boasts league top scorer; Wycliffe Ochomo a former employee with a point to prove.

Despite having their own in form forward; Jacques Tuyisenge and the passionate Green Army supporters at Moi Stadium, K’Ogalo will be wary of the former Ulinzi Stars striker who has scored nine of Muhoroni’s 11 league goals and netted again in the Top 8 knockout tournament last weekend.

“I can’t explain what is happening to me, but I pray to God that He continues to make me a better player. At this point I pray that I don’t sustain any injuries because I am going for the top scorers’ gong.

“My game is good and I am feeling good and enjoying scoring goals for my club,” he told KPL official website after their victory over Sofapaka in the cup competition.

Free-falling pre-season favourites, Bandari FC who were knocked out of the Top 8 by Tusker last Sunday are away to Chemelil Sugar hoping to move up from tenth (13), nine points off the lead as title hopes continue to grow fainter.

Head coach; Twahir Muhiddin is adamant he is under no pressure to perform but results paint a different picture having signed heavily in the pre-season.

In other round 12 fixtures, John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla’s Nairobi City Stars face off with Ushuru FC, Thika United host Ulinzi while bottom placed Sofapaka lock horns with improving Sony Sugar who are on a good run after the return of Salim Babu at the helm.

Fixtures

Saturday 7 May

14:00 Gor Mahia Muhoroni Youth FC

15:00 Nairobi City Stars Ushuru FC

15:00 Chemelil Sugar Bandari

15:00 Sofapaka SoNy Sugar

Sunday 8 May

14:00 Mathare United Western Stima

15:00 Thika United Ulinzi Stars

16:15 AFC Leopards Posta Rangers

Tags:

AFC Leopards GOR MAHIA Mathare United Posta Rangers Wycliffe Ochomo Ivan Minnaert SportsPesa Premier League

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