Gor host bottom side Vihiga Bullets as Tusker seek to intoxicate Bidco at Ruaraka
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) 2022/2023 Premier League resumes today after the international break with a relatively busy schedule marked by eight matches.
Table-toppers Gor Mahia face what appears the easiest of tasks when they face bottom-placed Vihiga Bullets at Kasarani Main Stadium from 3 pm.
K’Ogalo will not only be intent in cementing their lead but also show what Harambee Stars missed in yesterday’s tie against Iran after the team’s Head Coach Engin Firat dropped the multiple champions’ talismanic striker Benson Omalla from the trip to Tehran.
Omalla, whose omission in the national squad sent tongues wagging, has so far plundered nineteen goals in 20 matches he has played for Gor and is expected to pile more misery on Bullets whose defence is leaking having shipped 32 goals in the top-tier league.
However, Gor will be without combative midfielder Alpha Onyango who is away with Stars in Iran but this does not bother the team’s Irish trainer Jonathan McKinstry a bit.
“I have many suitable replacements and it’s their chance to prove their worth though we are meeting a lowly side. I cannot say that the team has fully hit the right cord. We are still a work in progress and shall take the remaining fixtures each at a time,” said McKinstry.
Vihiga Bullers, who lost 3-1 to Kariobangi Sharks in their last fixture before the league took a lull, are expected to lean heavily on Lucas Waitere in their quest to breach Gor defence line led by ex-international Philemon Otieno.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to observe just what is up the sleeve of defending champions Tusker who face Bidco United without influential international defender Daniel Sakari.
Placed third in the chart, Tusker has struggled for the better part of the season and shall be hoping to leap from second placed KCB and eventually Gor in their bid to retain the trophy.
But Tusker should better understand that KCB, too, are vouching to climb up the ladder and shall be us-ing their match against Kakamega Homeboyz in Bukhungu to achieve the dream.
Perhaps the advantage the bankers should take with open arms is that Homeboyz are increasingly vul-nerable to visiting teams in Kakamega in a statistics which have not augured well with their fans.
Known for the good away record, KCB are expected to lean heavily on Nicholas Kipkirui and Kennedy Owino in their bid to bring the hosts down to earth yet again.
At Nyayo National Stadium, fans are in for a treat in the potentially explosive encounter between AFC Leopards and Bandari.
