Will AFC spoil the party for Homeboyz again?

Kakamega Homeboyz's Eston Esiye (left) and Brayan Wanyama of AFC Leopards during FKF Premier League match at The Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday, Dec 29, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kakamega Homeboyz will be hoping to keep their FKF Premier League title hopes alive when they host rivals AFC Leopards in the return leg of the ‘Ingo derby’ at Bukhungu Stadium tomorrow.

The match is a must-win for the hosts Homeboyz as they seek to dethrone defending champions Tusker.

Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz are joint top with 57 points, but the brewers are leading courtesy of a better goal difference. 

Speaking ahead of the match, Mwalala maintained that the title race will go down the wire.

“We have three games left before the season comes to an end and this is a race that will go all the way to the wire. We keep motivating the players and I am confident that by the end of the last match, we will be at the top of the log,” said Mwalala.

Leopards, who have only lost once in their last 16 matches, will be out spoil the party Homeboyz like they did it in 2013 when they relegated Homeboyz after beating them 2-1. Ingwe thrashed Talanta 3-2 last weekend.

“We won 3-2 but we put ourselves in trouble! Fortunately, we did not give up and we believed on it ... we showed character! It is also a way to win matches! Those boys learn and progress weeks after weeks,” said AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems.

“We take one game at a time and on Sunday we focus on Homeboyz. We understand they need this win more than us but we will be there to compete and try and collect maximum points.”

But Homeboyz head into the match with a better history over Ingwe.

Mwalala’s charges boast of four wins in their last seven meetings where Leopards have won only one match with the other two finishing in draws including their last meeting in December that ended in a 2-2 draw.

And Homeboyz CEO Collins Shitiabayi feels the financial support from Mozzart Bet has played a key role in their performance this season.

“We don’t take it for granted that we can comfortably run the team without any major issue and all this is due to the partnership we have with Mozzart,” said Shitiabayi.

“We can also scout and retain great talent and all these is reflected in the results we have posted this season. Our aim is to clinch the FKFPL title and become a continental giant in the near future.”

Tusker, who have played a game more than Homeboyz, will not be in action until June 5 when they tackle Bidco United.

But Bandari appears to have dragged themselves into the title race and are ready to capitalise on Tusker and Homeboyz’s slip ups.

The dockers moved within four points of the top two after their 2-0 win over Kariobangi Sharks welcome Ulinzi Stars in Mombasa today with an aim of extending their winning run to six matches in a row. 

Victory over the soldiers will see Anthony Kimani’s side narrow the gap on the league leaders to one point heading into the final stretch of the season.

“We will try and get maximum points in that match. All our focus is geared towards collecting maximum points against Ulinzi and then we will see where we will be at the end of the day,” said Kimani.

Other matches today will see record champions Gor Mahia take on Nairobi City Stars, Kenya Police entertain Posta Rangers, Sofapaka face Vihiga United as Wazito host Bidco.