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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Stima coach vows to silence Leopards

Sports

By - Gilbert Wandera | Sep 15, 2012

By Gilbert Wandera

Western Stima coach Henry Omino has vowed to switch off the lights on title chasing AFC Leopards and leave them groping in darkness when the two sides meet on Saturday in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) tie at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium.

Omino said the match has high stakes for them since they also want to finish the league in a top five position.

“By all accounts it will be an explosive match between two ambitious teams. They are chasing the title while we want to finish among the top five. The three points are very important for us and we are determined to do everything possible to have them on Saturday,” said Omino.

Omino said his side goes into Saturday’s match determined to increase their points tally and have an advantage over their potential opponents for a top five position.

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“There are teams behind us who are close by and will overtake us if we drop points,” said Omino whose side lies in seventh position.

Omino admitted the last minute change of venue from Bukhungu to Nakuru has taken away their advantage, but insisted they are ready to play anywhere.

“Being away from home always denies you the advantage, but I have prepared my players to be able to cope with such pressure,” said the veteran coach.

Means everything

Stima lost the first leg match to AFC Leopards 1-0 at Mumias Complex giving them the motivation to overturn the result.

So far Stima have surpassed last season’s performance when they finished outside the top ten.

Veteran players Ramadhan Balala, Mark Sirengo and influential Ali Bhai carry Stima’s hopes going into this match.

It is a match that Leopards coach Jaan Koops admitted means everything to them as they fight to protect their slender lead at the top of the log.

Leopards will therefore put out their best squad and may see Paul Were coming back to the midfield to supply hit men Allan Wanga and Mike Barasa.

Nairobi City Stars host Mathare United at Hope Centre, this afternoon hoping to win their first match of the second leg.

City Stars are yet to get back the form which saw them bring down giants towards the end of the first leg. The team is yet to recover after selling their main striker Dan Sserunkuma to Gor Mahia in July.

Coach Gideon Ochieng captured the desperation at Hope Centre by urging his players not to live it too late in the battle against relegation.

Last season, City Stars left it to the last day of competition to survive relegation and it is something Ochieng says they do not want to go through again.

While City Stars have struggled in the second leg, Mathare have impressive.