In a match that has always proven to be their Achilles heel in recent times, record Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia will be looking to iron their loose ends when they come up against Tusker on Wednesday afternoon at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.Over the last three years, the 19 time champions have failed to record a win against the Brewers in the five matches in all competitions staged since then (L4 D1), a record that the Johnathan McKinstry currently coached side will be looking to change.⏭️| Up next we take on Gor Mahia at the Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/wGWheovDsf— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) February 6, 2023 Heading into the encounter, Gor will certainly be buoyed by their impressive form that has seen them lose only one game out of the twelve they have played so far in the 2022/2023 Football Kenya Federation Premier League, a streak that has them in second place just one point behind table topping Nzoia Sugar who are on 28 points having played two games more.With defending champions Tusker sitting two points behind them, and struggling for form and consistency since 2023 started (W2 D4 L2), Gor Mahia (W5 D2 L1) have an opportune chance of finally ending their hoodoo against Robert Matano’s side in a bid to open a five point gap that could see them reclaim top spot should Nzoia fail to secure a result on their travels against Kariobangi Sharks.Ouma keen for new European challenge but AIK’s high asking price blocking potential movesWhile the formbook favours Gor, their head coach has called on his team to be extra careful facing the Brewers who will be out to prove themselves in the match that needs no extra motivation.“We know Tusker will be an incredibly difficult opponent. Obviously they are the reigning champions and have taken the top spot from Gor over recent years.A lot of people outside might look at them and say they have dropped points recently but you know a wounded animal is the most dangerous type. And so we need to be ready when we play against them,” McKinstry said after the team’s training.##NAJAVA_MECA_7009750##On the other hand, Tusker need to get back to form and to do that fast as they have failed to record a win in their last three league games which included a heavy 3-0 loss against Kenya Police and two draws, results that have seen them slip from first to fourth on the log.“The game is going to be tough tomorrow but we have prepared ourselves well and corrected the areas we feel we have been poor in our last matches. Against Police we did not create matches and in the other (Sharks) we missed a lot of chances. We have been working on that and have realized our mistakes.Five promising Kenyan footballers whose talent risks going to wasteThe game against Gor is a motivation to us because we know they are in good form at the moment. We have prepared well and I believe the team will be up to the task as I expect all three points,” Matano confidently said.While Gor have the inform Benson Omala – who is the current top scorer with 11 strikes – to look upto for goals, Tusker will be praying for much needed intervention as they have managed only one in the last three games.So with the two teams among those in contention to go all the way this season, who will pass an early title credential test?The match kicks off at 1500EAT.Nairobi City Stars vs Kenya PoliceIn an early kickoff game at the Kasarani Annex grounds, on-form Kenya Police will be looking to making it four wins on the bounce as they visit 15th-placed Nairobi City Stars.Kenya Police have been riding on a great run under head coach Francis Baraza, losing only one game under his stewardship.Its Match day at Kasarani Annex Stadium.#simbawanairobi pic.twitter.com/zA4QRptgsC— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) February 8, 2023 Nairobi City Stars on the other hand have been on a not-so-familiar footing under coach Nicholas Muyoti. Simba wa Nairobi has lost three of their last five fixtures, with their last win coming late last month – a 1-0 victory over Wazito.On head to head, the two teams have played each other quite frequently of late, with Kenya Police winning the last encounter on their way to clinching the October Elite Preseason Cup final. Overall, the two teams drew twice last season, with City Stars last winning against the Police side in 2019.Police head coach Francis Baraza after last weekend’s away victory over Bidco United didn’t hold back the team’s chase for success this season, tipping them to gun for the Premier League title.One man who will be hugely depended on will be the free-scoring attacker Elvis Rupia – now on double digit goals (10) so far this season. With a bunch of skillful wide men around him, the run might as well continue this afternoon.Sofapaka vs KCBIn the second game of the afternoon double header at Kasarani Annex, third placed KCB will host midtable side Sofapaka FC from 1515 EAT.KCB, after a run of three consecutive draws, finally clinced victory in last weekend’s fixtures – beating Mathare United 2-1 at the same grounds on Saturday afternoon. Kennedy Owino, scorer of the first goal last weekend, is now on six goals and is enjoying a great comeback season. His partner Nicholas Kipkirui was also on target for another time this season for the Zedekiah Otieno led side who could -with results going their way- finish the day at top of the table.KCB are just one point off the leaders Nzoia Sugar having played two extra games.🔛MATCHDAY🆚 @KCBFootball⌚3:15pm📍Annex@OyandoRonny#BatotoBaMungu pic.twitter.com/n7JiEkresy— Sofapaka FC (@FC_Sofapaka) February 8, 2023 Sofapaka on the other hand have picked up six points out of six in ther last two games. Batoto ba Mungu beat Wazito FC 1-0 over the weekend thanks to David Nshimirimana goal in the ninth minute. Their other win came against Vihiga Bullets- who failed to show up to the game.Sofapaka head coach David Ouma has in the past lamented over goal scoring and will look to have them add up to their 14 goals scored this season.On head to head, KCB picked up 4 points from Sofapaka last season. Sofapaka’s last win came in May 2021 in a 1-0 win.Ulinzi Stars vs Bidco United, 3 PM EAT, Ulinzi Sports ComplexAt the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Lang’ata, four-time KPL champions Ulinzi Stars take on Bidco United with their focus on three points which could take them up to fourth depending on the results of respective matches pitting Tusker FC and Kenya Police.The Anthony Akhulia-coached Bidco, on the other hand, will be seeking their first win in the tie since their promotion to the top-tier, with three of the four meetings between the two sides ending in draws while Ulinzi have won once.Bidco started out the campaign so well, but they have since stuttered and find themselves in the bottom half of the standings with just 15 points from 13 matches.##NAJAVA_MECA_7010368##Benard Mwalala will hope his side regains their scoring touch after experiencing a sort of a goal drought in the last four matches where they have scored only two goalsMathare United vs Bidco United, 3 PM EAT, RuarakaStruggling Mathare United host cash-strapped Vihiga Bullets at Ruaraka Grounds in a bottom-of-the-table clash.The match comes at a time when the Slum Boys have just been hit with a match-fixing scandal that has seen two of their players suspended by the Football Kenya Federation.##NAJAVA_MECA_7010050##Both teams have won once and drawn once this season, and the winner in this match could pull away slightly from the other.Mathare United’s stand-in coach Sam Kioko opines that he has gotten hold of his charges and believes good results will start trickling in provided they work on their defending.”I now have a good understanding of the players. Our main problem has been on defending which is what we will continue working on heading into the next match,” he said on Saturday.Kariobangi Sharks vs Nzoia Sugar, 1 PM EAT, Utalii GroundsIn one of the two early kick-off matches for the day, Kariobangi Sharks host high-flying Nzoia Sugar at Utalii Grounds starting at 1 PM.##NAJAVA_MECA_7010370##The match is anticipated to be one of the best in the round owing to the playing styles on show by both teams.While Nzoia are playing beautifully and have the points to show for it on the log, Sharks on the other hand languish at the bottom half of the log at 12th with just 16 points despite scoring the most goals so far in the campaign.The Millers played to a barren draw in their last match at home against AFC Leopards and they will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways, something they have done exceptionally whenever approaching a game after dropping points.Elsewhere, Bandari take on Kakamega Homeboyz at Mbaraki Grounds at 3 PM EAT.
