By Robin Toskin
Saturday
Mahakama v Sofapaka Karuturi 3pm
Mahakama's premier league status is hanging by a thread going into their clash against outgoing champions Sofapaka.
The champions’ pride has been battered in recent weeks including the 1-1 draw against Posta Rangers last weekend when top scorer John Baraza scored a last gasp penalty to save their blushes.
The Justice Boys will have the final heave in their bid to survive the axe. Mahakama can only finish on 30 points if they beat Sofapaka on Saturday and Chemelil on the last day of the Championship.
However, for them to survive they must wipe out the negative 12-goal difference besides winning the remaining two matches and hope that Chemelil Sugar, who are already on 30 points, lose all their remaining matches.
Mahakama will believe they have the momentum after beating Mathare United in Naivasha on Sunday 2-0 with goals by and Erick Ochieng and Bernard Meki.
Sofapaka on the other hand will seek to finish among the top three to have the chance of dipping their fingers in the money pot at the end of the season.
Player Focus
Mahakama: Bernard Meki came off the bench to settle nerves for Mahakama with a well-taken goal against Mathare United and would be coach Sammy Omollo’s trump card against Sofapaka.
Mahakama: Defender Isaac Otieno returned from injury and played exceptionally well on the left back and he would be called upon to take care of re-charged Patrick Kagogo who lately appears to be the conduit for Sofapaka attacks.
Sofapaka: Patrick Kagogo by far the most creative of Sofapaka midfielders with his deft left-foot has played a pivotal role in the last fixtures having missed the better part of the season. If fit, Sofapaka attacks from the left flank will always bring out the best from striker John Baraza and Bob Mugalia.
Head To Head
Mar 14, 2010 Sofapaka 1 Mahakama 1
Gor Mahia v Sony Sugar Thika 3pm
Gor Mahia have so far fought a good battle by trying to eat up ground on Ulinzi Stars to which they have narrowed the gap to three points. But, how far they can go will depend on their result against Sony in Thika town.
Gor Mahia have everything to lose while Sony Sugar have nothing to lose having already surpassed their expectations after a poor start to the season.
K’Ogalo can only win the title if they win their two remaining matches and Ulinzi fail to get the four points they so desperately need from their remaining two matches. The 12-time Kenyan Premier League champions needed a controversial penalty to beat Thika United 1-0 on Sunday to keep their hopes alive. Sony on the other hand fell flat on their pledge to beat Ulinzi Stars when they were beaten 2-1 at Afraha Stadium on Saturday.
Anything less than a win for Gor Mahia will mean Ulinzi Stars will be declared champions if the military men beat Red Berets on the same day.
Player Focus
GOR: George “Blackberry” Odhiambo has continued to be Gor Mahia’s point man. For the second successive match Odhiambo earned Gor Mahia a penalty having done so against AFC Leopards on October 23.
GOR: Teenage defender Musa Mohammed returns from suspension for this crucial encounter. Mohammed’s intelligence will be needed against fleet-footed Under-20 teammate Joshua Oyoo and Justine Monda if Gor’s dreams should remain alive until the last day on November 13.
GOR: Coach Zedekiah Otieno privately wants to win the championship, but publicly says an improvement from last season’s fifth placing will be an overachievement. The cameras will nevertheless be on the former Gor Mahia defender.
SONY: Joshua Oyoo came off the bench to notch Sony’s only goal in their 2-1 loss to Ulinzi Stars, which definitely will put the youngster in Gor’s VIP list.
Head To Head
Mar 13, 2010 Sony Sugar 1 Gor Mahia 1
Sep 19, 2009 Sony Sugar 2 Gor Mahia 1
May 10, 2009 Gor Mahia 2 Sony Sugar 1
Posta v Mathare Utd Afraha* SS9 1pm
Gor Mahia’s Julius Owino tussles for the ball with Red Berets’ Joseph Asudza. |
Mahakama players wonder what could have hit them. [PHOTOS: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD] |
Posta Rangers battled to a 1-1 draw against champions Sofapaka on Sunday and believe they can get a result against Mathare United who have drawn a record 18 matches, lost four and won a paltry six.
Posta Rangers’ mini-revival midway through the second leg burst leading to the sacking of coach Peter Ambetsa whereupon his assistant David Ouma was elevated and given former Homegrown FC coach Michael Nam to work with. Posta’s eight points out of a possible 12 in the last four matches has lifted the Mailmen away from the deep waters.
PLAYER FOCUS
Posta: Captain Pascal Ochieng has led from the front this season by getting crucial goals despite him being a defender. Ochieng scored a goal against Karuturi Sports a fortnight ago, a result that could yet be the defining win in their survival bid. Strong in the air and blessed with a power-packed shot, Ochieng’s defensive abilities may well prove the difference should Posta Rangers pull through.
Mathare United: With the 2008 champions having lost the plot, the spotlight will squarely fall on coach Salim Ali.
Mathare United’s 2010 season statistics provides for some comic relief especially their record–setting 18 draws. Coach Ali will also demand a quick riposte after a humiliating 2-0 defeat by relegation candidates Mahakama. With captain Anthony Kimani likely to sit out through injury and left-back Kennedy Ayong sent off against Mahakama, Ali must come up with a strategy if he is to prevent his side’s season, earlier considered champion material, from degenerating into a farce.
Head-To-Head
Mar 14, 2010 Mathare Utd 2 - 1 Posta Rangers
Sunday
KCB v Thika Utd Karuturi* SS9 1pm
KCB’s season blues started at Thika United when they lost their unbeaten record in that 1-0 defeat. Since then, it has been a topsy-turvy performance for Leonard Saleh’s side.
Question is: will the bankers’ come together or will Thika United continue with their dominance over KCB?
With 32 points, the bankers need two points to muster an unassailable points tally against the second from bottom Red Berets if they have to live to fight for honour next season.
Thika United coach Juma Abdallah declined to talk to the press after their 1-0 defeat at home to Gor Mahia to protest what he felt was an injustice after the visitors were awarded a penalty late on.
The 106 Km trip to Nairobi against KCB should provide a consolation as the coach has said they want to finish in a respectable position. PLAYER FOCUS KCB: Pint-sized Ezekiel Odera has defied the odds to rank as the second top scorer in the league and looks a bet to increase his goal tally. Odera makes up for his lack of physique by getting himself to the right place and should Thika United take off an eye from the banker, they well regret it. Thika United: Kennedy Otieno’s gradual development continues with a good display against Gor Mahia last weekend. Physically endowed, Otieno packs a powerful shot. Head-To-Head Mar 14, 2010 Thika Utd 1 - 0 KCB July 26, 2009 KCB 1 - 1 Thika Utd Mar 8, 2009 Thika Utd 2 - 0 KCB Karuturi v W. Stima Karuturi* SS9 3pm Kenyan Premier League’s two sides that are known to notoriously blow hot and cold meet on Sunday in a match to be televised live by Supersport. Stima halted Ulinzi Stars’ charge to the title thanks to a Brian Masiolo strike a fortnight ago, but Henry Omino’s men failed to repeat the same at home against Nairobi City Stars when they could only settle for a barren draw last weekend. Karuturi were beaten 2-0 by Posta Rangers, but bounced back with a 1-0 win over AFC Leopards in Mumias. The stage is thus set for a nail biting clash pitting two mid-table teams with Karuturi Sports seeking to make home advantage count. The first leg ended all square on March 13 and it remains to be seen who will hold the bragging rights going into the 2011 season. PLAYER FOCUS Karuturi: Hard running veteran Karuturi Sports attacking midfielder Jacob Omondi has done most of the donkey work this season while Allan Otindo has grabbed the headlines for his goal-scoring feat. Karuturi may lack a real star in their ranks, but a high work rate coupled with their impressive fullbacks so often at the heart of their attacks have made the flower men a difficult team to break. Titus Wamalwa on the left of the defence and Amon Muchiri on the right have been impressive and could decide the outcome of their clash tomorrow. However, if they fail to turn up as they did in their 2-0 loss to Posta two weeks ago Stima could hog bragging rights. Western Stima: Striker Brian Masiolo’s potency in front of goal this season has helped take off relegation worries for the men from Kakamega. Unlike last season when Stima had relegation worries, this term they have consolidated their mid-table status thanks to Masiolo’s goals often initiated by veterans Mark Sirengo and Ramadhan Balala. Head-To-Head Mar 13, 2010 W Stima 1 - 1 Karuturi Sports Sep 27, 2009 Karuturi 1 - 0 Western Stima Apr 25,2009 W Stima 0 - 0 Sher Karuturi AFC Leopards v Tusker Mumias 3pm AFC Leopards have lost three matches on the bounce with the latest, 1-0 loss to Karuturi Sports at their adopted home of Mumias Sugar Complex in Western Kenya, providing some food for thought to Ingwe faithful. Tusker, too, are still reeling from their failure to challenge strongly for Kenyan Premier League title. Their stingy 0-0 draw at home to Chemelil Sugar last week, on the back of another stale barren draw against Mathare United must have left the brewers wondering as to what has gone wrong with their fighting spirit. With both sides surely seeking for a decent end to the season and AFC Leopards just needing a point to confirm their premier league status next season, a fierce battle could be in the making at Shibale, Mumias. Tusker still has sweet memories, though, of the Mumias venue where they smashed Western Stima 3-0 on August 28 which AFC Leopards must worry about. PLAYER FOCUS AFC Leopards: Demonde Selenga missed a penalty against Karuturi Sports, but has no doubt been an influential figure in the Leop ards’ den. His combination with fellow Congolese Itubu Imbem has been worth writing home about. Leopards’ fans have taken to the duo to their hearts and could be time for payback from the Congolese duo. Tusker: Coach James Nandwa’s future at Tusker has been thrown into doubt after the brewers meekly surrendered the title chase. Can the former KTM, Utalii FC and Karuturi Sports coach sign off with six points starting with AFC Leopards on Sunday if only to buy some more time at Ruaraka? 90 minutes at plush lush of Mumias Sugar Complex Stadium will tell. Head-To-Head Mar 17, 2010 Tusker 0 - 0 Leopards July 18, 2009 Leopards 0 - 3 Tusker May 1, 2009 Leopards 2 - 3 Tusker Chemelil v City Stars Chemelil 3pm Nairobi City Stars come against the ‘Miracle Worker’ in Chemelil’s Technical Director Nick Yakhama, who is searching for a win that will put his side to within a point of survival. The powerfully built former striker is rapidly gaining a reputation similar to that of Tottenham Hotspurs’ Harry Redknapp of turning around the fortunes of struggling teams. Having saved AFC Leopards from relegation last season, Yakhama embarked on pulling Chemelil from an unfathomable abyss and now looks set to complete his job against City Stars. Chemelil’s 0-0 draw against Sofapaka seemed a fluke, but Yakhama insisted it was the beginning of their revival. And true to his word, Chemelil has since grabbed from Thika United and AFC Leopards identical 2-0 scorelines and got a precious point against Tusker last week. So, will the miracle continue to unfold before the Chemelil fans at Chemelil Complex? Nairobi City Stars held Western Stima 0-0 last week and they will go into their second straight away match believing they can get a single point to get to the magical 34 point threshold to remain in the league. PLAYER FOCUS Chemelil: It is surely the big man, coach Nick Yakhama who will hog the limelight for the way he has turned around the team. However, Tony Opondo is the man who will carry Chemelil’s threat on the pitch. Opondo is Chemelil’s top scorer and the sugarbelt club will look up to the striker to deliver the goods to ensure their survival. City Stars: Ugandan Jimmy Bageya’s pace upfront has been a delight to watch. The fleet-footed striker was instrumental in Sofapaka’s 2-0 capitulation and looks to continue with his pace that often leaves his teammates and opponents huffing and puffing in his wake. Chemelil, however, will take heart in Bageya’s poor conversion rate.
