The 2008 Kenyan Premier League champions, Mathare United, will seek to go three places higher when they face debutants Mara Sugar in one of the two league matches scheduled for Friday at the Dandora Stadium.Mathare, who are on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Kariobangi Sharks in the Slum Derby, are placed 13th on the log with 27 points, one behind their match day opponents.The John Kamau-coached side can not afford to drop points today, as a slip-up will drag them closer to the red zone, piling more pressure on the tactician and players.##NAJAVA_MECA_8810094##Mathare does not have a promising run to the match, as the club has not managed to secure three points in the last three matches against Sharks, Murang’a Seal, and KCB.Their last win dates back to 20 February, when they beat Kenya Police 1-0 to end their 13-game unbeaten run.Similarly, Mara have been struggling in recent weeks, as the club has not won in the last four matches.The league newcomers last won a league match on 9 February when they thrashed FC Talanta 4-1.Why Victor Wanyama joined a relegation-threatened Scottish minnowsThe sugar men will hope to halt the winless run and seal a double over Mathare, having reaped a 3-0 win in the first leg.Much as three points will not trigger a rise on the log, it will definitely widen the gap between them and teams in the bottom half of the log.Kasaya predicts nail-biter in unpredictable Mashemeji Derby showdownThe match will be curtain-raised by the clash pitting Talanta against the 2009 champions, Sofapaka.Just like Mathare, Talanta are in dire need of maximum points; the team is ranked third from the bottom with 23 points, ten shy of Sofapaka’s tally.Talanta are winless in their last three matches, with victory today guaranteeing them safety pending the outcome of the rest of the weekend matches.Meanwhile, Sofapaka will find themselves in the top six if they manage to beat Talanta.
