AFC Leopards face Shabana challenge as Mathare United welcome City Stars for Dandora duel

© AFC Leopards

AFC Leopards face Shabana challenge as Mathare United welcome City Stars for Dandora duel

Festus Chuma 07:01 - 27.11.2024

FKF Premier League Wednesday action sees AFC Leopards face Shabana in a derby as Mathare United welcome City Stars.

AFC Leopards will hope to retain the full three points and claim their fourth league win of the season when they face Shabana in a hotly contested FKF Premier League match on Wednesday afternoon at Gusii Stadium.

Ingwe, currently sitting seventh on the table with 12 points, have been inconsistent blowing hot and cold throughout the season.

Their recent 1-1 draw against Mara Sugar on November 11 marked their fourth match without a win extending their frustrating run of results.

Coach Tomas Trucha is determined to motivate his men for this derby emphasizing the importance of delivering for their Gusii fans who will be cheering passionately from the stands.

"We will still battle for the title. We have seen many teams are limping so far in the season and we have to push,” said Trucha in a recent interview with TelcomAsia.

On the other hand, Shabana, positioned 11th in the league, are coming into the game with two wins from their last three matches.

The Glamour Boys secured crucial victories over Kenya Police and Murang’a Seal, bouncing back strongly after a loss to Nairobi City Stars.

Under the guidance of coach Peter Okidi, Shabana will be fired up for the derby atmosphere knowing a win against Leopards could propel them further up the table.

Key players like striker Darius Msagha and midfielder Justine Omwando have been instrumental in Shabana's resurgence and will be crucial to their chances.

For Leopards, the pressure will be on their star man Arthur Gitego who has been a creative spark despite the team's struggles.

Trucha will hope his team can finally shake off their inconsistency and rediscover their winning touch in this highly anticipated fixture.

Meanwhile, in another headline match, Mathare United will host Nairobi City Stars in what has been dubbed the "Slum Derby" at Dandora Stadium.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides at this venue, following their last encounter on January 22, 2023, in Ruaraka, where City Stars claimed a narrow 1-0 win courtesy of an Anthony Muki Kimani freekick.

Mathare United enter the game in strong form, having climbed to fourth place on the table with 14 points after a commanding 2-0 victory over Posta Rangers in their last outing.

Coach John Kamau has molded a resilient side, with players like Brian Ouru and Kevin Kimani proving pivotal in their recent run.

Mathare will be looking to continue their upward trajectory against a City Stars side desperate to bounce back.

"We have a clear picture of what to expect this Wednesday. We had the chance to watch City Stars play against Tusker over the weekend and coupling this with footage of their past fixtures, we can prepare for this match. The only downside is that we don't have much time to prepare," said Kamau

City Stars, in contrast, have struggled to find their rhythm, sitting 16th with just eight points.

Their weekend 1-0 loss to Tusker added to their woes, and coach Leonard Odipo faces the daunting task of reigniting their campaign.

Despite their struggles, City Stars have shown glimpses of potential, with forward Mohamed Bajebar often leading their attacking charge.

Odipo will urge his players to draw inspiration from their previous victory over Mathare and push for a vital win.

Elsewhere, Tusker FC will lock horns with newly promoted Mara Sugar in a 4pm clash at Dandora Stadium.

Tusker, who are currently sitting on sixth place place with 12 points, are brimming with confidence after a hard-fought 1-0 win against City Stars last weekend.

Assistant coach George Maina believes his side is in a better place now, citing their hard work during the international break and the return of key players from injury.

“We have prepared well for this game, and based on the good results we had against City Stars, the boys are really motivated and in good spirits for the game. We had really worked hard over the international break to address a few weak areas, and most of all, it gave the injured players good time to return fully fit. I believe we are now at a better place,” Maina said.

Mara Sugar, sitting second with 16 points, is still adjusting to the top-flight league.

Coach George Oguk will be banking on the likes of striker Batts Awita and midfielder Vincent Mulama to challenge Tusker and pull off an upset.

In other fixtures, FC Talanta, currently 17th with 6 points, will face Ulinzi Stars at Machakos Stadium in a 1 p.m. kickoff. Talanta come into the match after a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Bandari.

Ulinzi Stars, in eighth place with 11 points, are seeking redemption following their disappointing 3-2 loss to Kakamega Homeboyz last weekend. Both teams will be eager to make a statement and climb the table.

At Sportpesa Arena, Bidco United take on Posta Rangers in a 3 p.m. clash. Bidco, ninth on the table with ten points, are riding high after their recent victory against Mara Sugar.

Posta Rangers, sitting 18th with five points, will need a turnaround performance after their 2-0 defeat to Mathare United.

In Ukunda, Bandari FC will host Kariobangi Sharks at the Showground in a 3 p.m. kickoff.

Bandari fifth with 13 points are looking to recover from their loss to Talanta, while Kariobangi Sharks, in third place with 14 points will aim to maintain their strong league form and push further up the standings.