Top league spot at stake for Leopards

After a tumultuous closure to the first leg of the season, AFC Leopards have gotten back their groove and are poised to recapture the league leadership. Two wins and a draw have seen Leopards prowl just within two points of leaders Tusker.

Jan Koops’ men therefore will be preoccupied with bagging all three points when they face a resurgent Nairobi City Stars tonight at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Ingwe will, however, approach the match cautiously considering the Kawangware side handed them a 3-0 hiding in the first leg match two months ago at the same venue.

However, the arrival of big centre back Pascal Ochieng and the return to fitness of first choice goalkeeper Patrick Matasi will be a major boost for Leopards who start as strong favourites.

Another major positive for Leopards is Paul Were who has already cemented his place in the team after joining the club from Tusker during the June transfer window. And the fleet-footed player is already enjoying himself at the club.

“My brief experience at Leopards has been tremendous.The fans are passionate and gave me positive appraisal on my debut”, Were told sportsnewsarena.com,

Though Ugandan hit man Dan Sserunkuma has long left, City Stars managed an improbable 1-0 win over Thika United on the opening weekend of the second leg before holding Western Stima to a barren draw last weekend.

In Saturday’s only match, Ulinzi will play host to Western Stima at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium. The military side has reinvented itself after a disastrous start to the campaign that claimed the ahead of league-winning coach Benjamin Nyangweso.

If Ulinzi have reinvented itself, then Gor Mahai has literally risen from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix.

From those heady early days when K’Ogalo hovered precariously above the relegation zone, the arrival of Croat coach Zdravkoc Logarusic in April has transformed the team into a title challenging outfit.

The team is riding the crest of a six-match unbeaten run that has lifted them to sixth on the table with 26 points, 10 adrift of leaders Tusker.

For that reason, the match between Gor and Chemelil Sugar at Afraha Stadium will highlight the four matches lined up for Sunday.

In other matches, on-form Thika United will be up against Oserian in Thika, Karuturi Sports will welcome Sony Sugar at their adopted home ground at the neighbouring Oserian grounds, while Muhoroni Youth and KCB will lock horns at Nairobi City Stadium.

Weekend Fixtures Friday: AFC Leopards vs Nairobi City Stars

Saturday: Ulinzi Stars vs Western Stima

Sunday: Chemelil Sugar vs Gor Mahia, Thika United vs Oserian, Karuturi Sport vs Sony Sugar, KCB vs Muhoroni Youth.

Nesta Kizito

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