Nairobi ‘Slum derby’ to light up Machakos
Mathare United have a score to settle with their arch-nemeses Kariobangi Sharks when the two teams lock horns in a Slum Derby at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos Saturday.
During their last meeting in the league front on May 8, 2019, Mathare, then coached by Francis Kimanzi, succumbed 2-3 to Sharks in an entertaining match in Nairobi that left fans yearning for more.
Kimanzi has since given the coaching batons of Mathare to Salim Ali who is duty bound to ensure that his team, which has yet to lose a match since the 2019 Kenyan Premier League kicked off, inflict revenge in a match whose setting is some 66.2km from Nairobi.
Mathare are placed fourth in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) chart and a win will see them take a 24-hour lead pending the results of the match between table-topping Kakamega Homeboyz and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) at the same venue tomorrow.
Buoyed by a 2-1 win over Ulinzi Stars, Mathare are expected to be led from the front by goalkeeper Allan Owiny as they plot on the downfall of their opponents.
But then, Mathare should be cautious considering that they will be meeting vengeful Sharks who were hammered 3-0 by Homeboyz in Kakamega last weekend.
As Machakos fans brace themselves for a thrill-a-minute ‘Slum Derby’, those in Kisumu are waiting to watch the Dala derby between Kisumu All Stars and Western Stima at Moi Stadium Saturday.
Since being promoted in the top-tier league, Kisumu All Stars appear to have flattered to deceive by losing matches and this is a trend the team’s coach Francis Oduor will be hoping will end when they stalk All Stars.
Certainly, it will be a tall order for All Stars considering that they shall be playing arguably the most dazzling team ever since the league begun on August 31.
Against Posta Rangers last week in which they registered maximum points, Stima proved a real gem with Ugandan Villa Oromchan and Robert Achema displaying deft touches and these are the danger-men All Stars should keep close tabs on lest they live to regret.
On Sunday, AFC Leopards, proud after blitzing Wazito for their first league of the season, will be hoping to keep the candle aglow when they face Chemelil Sugar at Mumias Complex.
Ingwe under Rwandese coach Andre Casa Mbungo have had a drastic improvement lately and it would be safe to say that a win for them over Chemelil, who have yet to find their footing in the league, is inevitable.
– Charles Thuku
