Gor Mahia set to face Chemilil Sugar

Chemelil Sugar players after their with AFC players at the Nyayo National Stadium

Nairobi; Kenya: When Gor Mahia were edged out of the Cecafa Club Championships in Rwanda last month, the team was heavily criticised for their poor show.

Chemelil Sugar coach Mike Mururi reserved the harshest criticism for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions, claiming that they rely on referees to win matches at home.

Mururi said then: "The poor performance by Gor Mahia was self inflicted because they rely on referees to push them on the local scene. When they lack that advantage as they did in Rwanda they are not able to perform."

The remarks marked out Mururi as an enemy of the club and time for revenge has come at least on the pitch when Gor Mahia host Chemelil Sugar at City Stadium today.

His remarks have created a rivalry that has not existed before between the two clubs and is likely to add to the excitement of a fixture whose out-come will have have an impact on how the title chase goes.

Apart from the remarks, Chemelil Sugar have what it takes to stop Gor Mahia at home.

First, the sugar millers, who are fourth on the log, have always performed better away and have been a major problem for the major teams.

They beat Tusker at Ruaraka Stadium and even though they lost the first leg 1-0 to Gor Mahia, they are capable of returning the favour with an experienced squad that has the ability to rise to the occasion.

Gor are yet to lose at City Stadium and will be looking to this for inspiration against the sugar millers.

Troubled AFC Leopards will be at Mumias Complex today to take on a re-energised KCB side.

The bankers, who upset Ulinzi Stars 1-0 to relieve their relegation worries a bit, will be hoping they can repeat the same against a wounded Ingwe.

Leopards who are current GOtv champions cannot afford to lose this one. Another loss will surely suck them into the relegation battle.

After their latest loss to Western Stima in Kisumu, coach Pieteir De Jongh must find a way of picking all three points today.

Nakuru Top Fry, another team that is fighting off relegation, will play Ulinzi Stars tomorrow in a match that has been dubbed the Nakuru 'derby' with an eye on keeping their top flight status.

Meanwhile, Tanzanian Premier League side Azam are keen on playing an international build-up match against Chemelil Sugar.

Azam head coach Vivek Nagul in an exclusive interview with FeverPitch on Wednesday said: "I still recall that when Azam was invited by Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Kisumu Regional Show last year, we played Chemelil Sugar and the team was impressive."

Nagul praised the players for putting up an impressive performance in the Kenyan Kenya Premier League (KPL).

"Chemelil players should not take the team sponsor's support for granted, since it provides the  them with a platform to sharpen their skills and showcase their football talent for regional and foreign clubs to come scouting for them,” Nagul said.

Speaking to FeverPitch on phone from Bangalore in India on Wednesday morning to take up a new coaching job, Nagul said the anticipated friendly between the two East African sides will enhance regional relations and improve football standards.