Mathare United face tough Naivas test as Mara Sugar welcome Kisumu All Stars

©Mathare United

NSL Mathare United face tough Naivas test as Mara Sugar welcome Kisumu All Stars

Festus Chuma 09:15 - 09.12.2023

Five National Super League matches are scheduled for Saturday, promising an action-packed day of football competition.

Mathare United are gearing up to face second-placed Naivas in what promises to be an exciting National Super League (NSL) clash at Ruaraka Grounds on Saturday afternoon.

Mathare United, in their last league action, emerged victorious with a thrilling 3-2 win over Vihiga United, marking their ninth win of the season.

The Slum Boys have been formidable at home, securing an impressive 16 points from seven matches during this campaign.

Debut goals from Fidel Otieno and Christian Lubulu, combined with a third consecutive strike from Steve Kimari, propelled Mathare to victory in their last encounter.

Mathare's head coach, Leonard Odipo, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance in the recent matches.

"It was really important to us that we keep the momentum going because of our promotion aspirations back into the FKF Premier League. I really thank the boys for doing a good job, very good goals, and it shows that the players are really getting what we are training," he said.

Naivas, on the other hand, head into this match on the back of a convincing 3-0 win over Mulembe FC in their previous outing.

The Supermarket Boys are on a remarkable winning streak, aiming for their fourth consecutive victory and their ninth win in the league.

With 26 points to their name, they are trailing the table leaders by just three points making this clash against Mathare United even more crucial.

In other fixtures, SS Assad will have home-field advantage as they face Silibwet, while Mombasa Stars will host promotion-chasing Nairobi United at Mbaraki Sports Club.

The clash between third-placed Mara Sugar and fourth-placed Kisumu All Stars at Awendo Green Stadium in Migori promises to be another thrilling encounter.

Kisumu All Stars recently found their winning form with a convincing 4-1 victory over Kajiado FC on home soil.

Kisumu currently sits in fourth place on the league table with 21 points, eight points behind leaders Mathare United and three points behind their Saturday opponents, Mara Sugar.

All Stars' head coach, Carlos Bruno, emphasized their focused approach, stating that they will be aiming for a win and have no fear of any opponent.

"We just keep on pushing, we don't want to put our focus on teams that are above us on the log. We are just focusing on our games, taking it a game at a time, and I told the boys that we just have to focus on the game that is before us," the gaffer told reporters.

A win for Kisumu All Stars in this crucial match could potentially see them level on points with the Sugar Millers and narrow the gap on either Mathare United or Naivas, who will be clashing on the same day at the Ruaraka Stadium.

In a separate matchup, Mully Children's Family (MCF) will be hosting newcomers Rainbow FC at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

With high stakes and intense competition across the league, football enthusiasts can expect an action-packed weekend as these teams battle for supremacy. 

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