Nairobi News

Top Fry All Stars and Nairobi City Stars will be among the teams in action in a weekend that will see eight Kenyan Premier League matches played.

According to KPL CEO, Jack Oguda, the previously relegated teams have been included in the fixtures following Football Kenya Federation’s “failure to provide the names of the two duly promoted teams.”

The two will be at the Nairobi City Stadium on Saturday afternoon where they will face KCB and AFC Leopards respectively.

City Stars lost most of their key players upon their relegation last season, and will be considered easy prey for the Leopards.

This will be the first real test for Leopard’s new coach Zdravko Logarusic.

Ingwe, who have witnessed endless wrangling within the club’s management, and whose players are currently enduring months of unpaid salaries, settled for a barren draw in their opening clash against Chemelil Sugar.

SUSPENDED PLAYERS

Logarusic told Nairobi News that the team has been working hard during the three-month break, and that he is confident that they will emerge victorious in this tie.

“We have been quite busy in the last two weeks and we have played enough friendly matches. I now have a clearer picture of the strength and abilities of each player and we hope to win our match on Saturday,” Logarusic said.

The team will however miss the services of two first team players whose suspension has been lifted by the club management.

The duo, captain Martin Imbalamabala and forward Noah Wafula, were indefinitely suspended by the club for gross indiscipline, after allegedly being found guilty of marshaling the other players to attend a meeting and receiving cash from a rival faction led by Matthews Opwora.

“We have forgiven the two, but they are not in line to play this weekend because they have not trained with the team,” club Secretary General Timothly Lilumbi told Nairobi News.

Sources within the club’s hierarchy said the two have been pardoned following the intervention of coach Logarusic.

Meanwhile, KCB will be looking for their first win of the season when they face Top Fry All Stars, while Saturday’s other match will see Sony Sugar play host to Muhoroni Youth at Awendo Green Stadium.

PERFECT BUILD-UP

On Sunday, Tusker will lock horns with Ushuru FC in the first of the two matches at the Nyayo Stadium.

Defending champions Gor Mahia will later take on Chemelil Sugar at the same venue in what will be a perfect build-up to their Caf Champions League return leg match against Congo’s AC Leopards.

Coach Frank Nuttall will however follow this game’s proceedings from the stands having been sent off during their midweek clash against Bandari at City Stadium.

“The players are very refreshed and motivated, and it showed during our match (against Bandari). Fitness levels are also high and I believe each play will play his role,” Nuttall said.

At the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, Ulinzi Stars will embark on a tricky tie against Western Stima, while Sofapaka will be up against Bandari at the Ruaraka Stadium.

Batoto ba Mungu will miss the services of midfielder Danson Kago, who picked up an ankle injury while on national team duty against Egypt a fortnight ago.

KPL Fixtures

Saturday:

KCB vs Top Fry All Stars (City-2pm)

Thika United vs Mathare United (Thika-3pm)

Sony Sugar vs Muhoroni Youth (Awendo-3pm)

City Stars vs AFC Leopards (City-4:15pm)

Sunday:

Tusker FC vs Ushuru (Nyayo-2pm)

Ulinzi Stars vs Western Stima (Afraha-3pm)

Sofapaka vs Bandari (Ruaraka-3pm)

Gor Mahia vs Chemelil Sugar (Nyayo-4:15pm)