Will AFC Leopards maintain winning run when they visit Nzoia at Sudi Stadium?
Exactly two months ago, AFC Leopards Belgian coach Patrick Aussiems was pessimistic about the team’s chances of challenging for top honours in the Kenyan Premier League due to a default to sign experienced players.
Leopards’ failure to pen deals with accomplished legs was due to the embargo imposed by Fifa due to failure to settle Rwandan midfielder Vincent Habamahoro’s dues, totaling Ksh1.8 million, as directed by the world football governing body.
In retrospect, Aussiem’s mind-set as pertaining to the team’s plausibility in the top-tier league is increasingly changing going by the stellar performance by the team lately and which is predominantly weaved around greenhorns.
Last Wednesday, Leopards did what appeared the unthinkable when they edged out Nairobi City Stars 1-0 at Nyayo National Stadium last Wednesday with Aussiems pouring plaudits to his players over the conquest of the fancied Simba wa Nairobi.
“I can only attribute my players’ spirited play to their quest for success. They have a lot of enthusiasm and energy and it would be utterly wrong to write them off at this point in time,” said the former Dar Simba tactician.
Added Aussiems: “ The midfield went awry midway in the match but we managed to fix things and ultimately won the match,”
Tomorrow, the big cats train their guns on Nzoia Sugar hoping to administer to them the same dose although Aussiems reckons that it will not be an easy fixture.
“Nzoia may be lying at the lower reaches of the league but it’s a strong side. All the same, my players know what they should to pin them down,”
In Marvin Nabwire, Washington Munene, Levis Opiyo and Maxwell Otieno, Leopards boast of safe legs capable of steering the team to a positive result.
All in all, the weekend is dotted by bumper nine matches with the one between seventh-placed Gor Mahia and Mathare United one of the highlights.
Gor have not won in the last three matches and a negative result will, certainly, not auger well with their faithful and especially given that the last time they team won was on December 9, 2021 when they eclipsed relegation-threatened Vihiga Bullets 3-0.
At Utalii ground tomorrow, table-toppers KCB face Bidco United who have lately been blowing hot and cold.
Bidco’s last outing was a 2-1 loss to reigning champions Tusker and as such, they would wish to vent their anger on the bankers who shall be inspired by a 1-0 win over Mathare last weekend.
Elsewhere in Kasarani today, Kakamega Homeboyz, who relinquished the league lead to KCB last week, face a seemingly tough one against Kariobangi Sharks.
