KPL: Gor hope to enhance lead as they play City Stars, Sofapaka eyes slight slip up

Gor Mahia players celebrate against Tusker during their KPL match at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium last month. [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO]

Nairobi; Kenya: Gor Mahia have an opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) when they play away to Nairobi City Stars at Nyayo National Stadium today.

Second-placed Sofapaka, will be hoping to take advantage of the situation if Gor fail to win when they play away to Sony Sugar tomorrow in a weekend that is likely to set the tone for how the season will turn out.

With a difference of two points separating the two top sides, every match counts for them from now on, even as the title chase enters the home stretch.

Gor will perhaps be a little apprehensive as they play at Nyayo, a difficult hunting ground, against a team that have always been a hard nut to crack for them.

The last time Gor played at Nyayo, they were held 0-0 by KCB, but, this time round, they have no pleasure of doing that well aware that a drop in points will give Sofapaka an advantage.

To make matters worse, the Kawangware-based side are battling relegation and are likely to make life difficult for their opponents.
It is another trying moment for new Gor coach Frank Nuttall, whose record will once again be under scrutiny as he has won only once since taking over the hot-seat slightly more than one month ago.

For victory, Gor will look no further than Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma. Sserunkuma has the twin motivation of not only wanting to lead his side to victory, but also to increase his goal-tally to win the golden boot.

Ironically, City Stars is where Sserunkuma began his KPL career four years ago. After the departure of his striking partner, Rama Salim, Sserunkuma has found a perfect replacement in youthful Timothy Otieno and, together, they could trouble their opponents.

City Stars coach Robinson Ofwokwu, has been a confident man despite the team’s precarious position and understands that it is time to start delivering on the pitch.

With tough matches lined-up ahead for the Kawangware side, it looks an almost lost cause for City Stars, but beating Gor could change all that.

In Awendo, Sofapaka cannot afford any other result apart from an outright win to enhance their title hopes. The 2009 KPL champions, are facing perhaps their best season.

Apart from being in contention for the league title, they are also in sight to win the GOtv Shield.

Coach Sam Timbe, has warned against premature celebrations and they are taking one match at a time.

“We are not thinking about any titles. For us, it is one match at a time as long as we keep winning,,” he said.

Fixtures: Saturday: Mathare United (Nyayo 2pm), City Stars v Gor Mahia (Nyayo-4pm), Muhoroni Youth v KRA (Muhoroni), Western Stima v KCB (Kisumu Stadium).
Sunday: Sony Sugar v Sofapaka (Awendo), Thika United v Bandari (Thika), Top Fry v AFC Leopards (Afraha).