Kakamega Homeboyz will have their bid for the second Mozzart Bet Cup put to a thorough test when they face, the equally ambitious, Shabana on Sunday in a Round of 16 match at Moi Stadium, Kisumu. Homeboyz clinched the title when they edged Tusker 1-0 in the final staged at Kasarani Stadium on 1 July 2023, ending their prolonged wait for their first major crown. Efforts to retain the title last season proved not good enough, as the team crashed out at the quarterfinals following a 1-0 loss to KCB at Dandora Stadium. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8849740##With the league title hopes almost dead and buried, Homeboyz will leave nothing to chance against Shabana, as a slip up will certainly render their season trophy-less. Playing in a neutral venue and with Shabana’s renaissance under coach Peter Okidi, Homeboyz are well aware that it will not be a walk in the park. A 4-1 defeat in a league match staged at Gusii Stadium, a month ago, will definitely serve as a reminder of the damage Shabana can do to their hopes of reclaiming the title. Prodigal son Benson Omala scores as Gor Mahia sink Bandari in stoppage timeSimilarly, Shabana will also seek to make amends to their last season’s early exit from the competition, whose champion books a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup. Shabana lost 1-0 to AFC Leopards at the Round of 16, extinguishing their dream of marking their return to the top tier, after 17 years in the cold, with a silverware. Besides the highlight match of the day, three more matches will be played in the day across different venues on Sunday. STARS ABROAD: Ayunga on target as Wanyama secures victory in ScotlandDefending champions Kenya Police will hope to wipe the floor with Kapenguria United and sail to the last eight when the two face off at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. Police will head to the match aware of danger posed by minnows, who have been pulling surprises in the competition. On Saturday, losing finalists and pre-match favourites KCB exited the competition after falling to National Super League side Nairobi United, Why Timothy Ouma is yet to report back to Slavia Prague after securing Ksh473 million transferShortly after Police vs Kapenguria duel, familiar foes; way for Bidco United amd Ulinzi Stars will battle it out for the quaterfinal slot. Meanwhile, Murang’a Seal are scheduled to host third-tier side Kibera Soccer at the St.Sebastian Park. Sunday Mozzart Bet Cup Round 16 FixturesKakamega Homeboyz vs Shabana- Kisumu (3pm) Kenya Police vs Kapenguria United- Machakos(1pm) Bidco United vs Ulinzi Stars- Machakos (4pm) Murang’a Seal vs Kibera Soccer- St. Sebastian Park (3pm)
