Under pressure

By GILBERT WANDERA

Thika United have so far had one of their best performances in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and their current third place standings at the moment attests to this.

Inspite of this good performance, the Brookeside Diaries-sponsored side has had a poor record at home, something they will be seeking to end when they face Sofapaka at the Thika Municipal Stadium today.

Thika have lost most of their matches at home this season and are yet to win against the top sides.

AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia and Tusker have all collected maximum points at the venue a situation that does not augur well for the home-side who are seeking their first KPL title.

In seeking to explain the team’s poor performance at home, Thika coach John Kamau blamed the poor state of their home pitch, which he said affects their play.

“We have made several pleas to the authorities to do something about the state of the pitch but nothing has so far been done. It continues to cost us matches but you can see the difference when we play away,” he said.

Thika shocked Muhoroni Youth 1-0 last weekend in Muhoroni in yet another proof of their superiority away, a result they will be hoping to inspire them against a battered and bruised Sofapaka side.

Kepha Aswani, Francis Kahata and international left-back Clifford Miheso are the key men to lead Thika for goals.

Sofapaka go into this match with the reputation of having collected only one point from their last three outings, a not so inspiring performance by a team that won the KPL title in 2009.

netted 14 goals

The former KPL champions badly need to win  to get back some self-confidence for the remaining fixtures. They should, however, be glad that they still have the league’s top scorer John Barasa who thrives in big matches and will be key against Thika United.

Barasa has so far netted 14 goals but has not scored in a while which should be enough motivation when he plays Thika today.

From now on, every match counts for Mathare United and it is the reason they declined to let go of head coach Stanley Okumbi to travel with the national under-20 team for a national assignment to Egypt.

United play Western Stima this afternoon at Bukhungu Stadium, hoping to collect maximum points in their quest to break into the top ten.

“We cannot get a sponsor unless we break into the top ten and that is our focus at  the moment,” said United chairman Bob Munro last week when he announced that the team will not release Okumbi to travel to Egypt until after today’s game.

Stima have been enjoying good form and will be a tough opposition for United today especially since they enjoy a home ground advantage as well.