By Gilbert Wandera

Nairobi, Kenya: Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Tusker tackle Nairobi City Stars Wednesday afternoon in the only league match of the day at the Nairobi City Stadium.

Later at Nyayo National Stadium, Thika United will battle it out against Chemelil Sugar in the first semi-final match of the KPL Top Eight tournament which kicks off at 7pm.

At City Stadium, Tusker will be keen to continue their winning streak which has so far stretched to two matches in a row in what remains an impressive record so far in their quest to retain the league title.

The brewers bottled Mathare United 3-1 in a KPL Top Eight match last Wednesday and followed it up with a 1-0 win over Western Stima in a result that has left them knocking on the top ten door.

Currently, Tusker are 12th on the log and victory this afternoon will push them inside the top ten as they begin their rise to the top.

Twenty-year-old striker Ismail Dunga will make it four goals in four matches if he scores today and this alone should act as  a motivator for the hit-man.

Dunga has not stopped scoring since his side was held to a 1-1 tie by AFC Leopards two weeks ago.  He followed it up with another goal in the team’s 3-1 win over Mathare United and his third goal sunk Western Stima 1-0 on Saturday at Afraha Stadium.

Apart from Dunga, other goal hopefuls in the brewers side include teenage striker and former Upper High School student Michael Olunga as well as Jesse Were.

Nairobi City Stars have lost their last two fixtures in a row, something they will be keen to bring to an end. The Kawangware side have suddenly found themselves on the losing end after a good start to the season.

City Stars are known as a bogey side for all the top contenders and because of this Tusker must watch out for the likes of Dennis Okoth, Arthur Museve and Justus Basweti.

In the Top Eight fixture, Thika United will be hoping to carry their good form in the league against  Chemelil Sugar when the two clash at Nyayo National Stadium.

Thika are enjoying the form of their life and are currently at the apex of the standings with 16 points after replacing KCB who ruled for almost five weeks. Coach Francis Kamau has been quite inspirational in the Thika side and it is this that will push them against Chemelil.

For goals they have Ezekiel Odera and Francis Kahata to inspire their victory hunt.

Chemelil already have the motivation to get past Thika. They edged out big wigs AFC Leopards in the first round and it is this result they will look to for motivation.

The sugar millers are also known to play well away and this is something else that will count for them as they tackle Thika.

For the 10th week in a row, KCB forward Clifford Alwanga remains the top scorer in the KPL. He has remained at the top of the scorer’s chart despite failing to score in the last two matches.

He remains at the top on six goals followed by team-mate Jacob Keli and Karuturi Sports’ Andrew Murunga.

Noah Wafula (AFC), Athman Buki (Bandari), Jimmy Bagaye (City Stars), Hussein Zzinda (Karuturi),  Ezekiel Odera , Kennedy Otieno (Thika United) have scored thrice.  Those who have scored twice include Martin Imbalambala (AFC), Eric Okoth, Aloyce Mangi, Thomas Ntulwe (Bandari), Jared Omwenga, Victor Omondi (Chemelil),Rama Salim (Gor Mahia) and Edwin Mwaura (KCB).