NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 14 – Wounded ‘animals’ AFC Leopards and Sofapaka FC clash on Saturday afternoon as the FKF Premier League (FKF PL) resumes following the international break.
In yester years, a clash between these two sides produced fireworks and was one that was always earmarked as a big fixture, but this season, the duel is short of a fight for survival.
Troubled Batoto ba Mungu are rooted bottom of the standings with just seven points off 11 matches, while Leopards are two points above them at 15th.
Sofapaka, who have won only twice this season come into the match off a humiliating 5-0 defeat away to Kakamega Homeboyz and are under pressure to win, especially after the team brought in a myriad of new players at the start of the season.
Coach Ezekiel Akwana was recently brought on board after Francis Harigingo was fired and he is yet to hit the road running, with the tean struggling to knit results.
Leopards, with only one win in 11 outings are just two points shy of the drop zone and a defeat will see them drop the log.
Trucha confident he will turn things around
New coach Tomas Trucha said he is confident of turning the team’s fortunes around, but their latest results have been far from convincing.
They have two draws, two defeats and their only win of the season, a 1-0 result away to Nzoia Sugar. Their last result was a 1-1 draw with Posta Rangers.
Meanwhile in the early kick off at the same venue, league leaders Posta will take on another struggling side Shabana FC.
Three consecutive draws have seen John Kamau’s side drop their lead at the top of the standings to just a point, and they will look to make amends by picking maximum points at home.
Posta have had a positive start to the season and have only lost once. Shabana on the other end, have just two victories all season, a shock 1-0 victory over Tusker FC and a 2-1 victory over Nzoia Sugar in their last match before the international break.
They are still without a new head coach after the departure of Sammy Okoth, but coming into the tie in Machakos off victory from their last fixture, confidence will be high.
In other matches penciled for Saturday, Nairobi City Stars will take on Kariobangi Sharks at the Kasarani Annex.
The match pitting Bidco United and Tusker FC has meanwhile been pushed to Tuesday at the Annex, due to the delicate nature of the pitch occasioned by the heavy rains.
