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Kenya: Soccer - Mathare Utd Take Hunt for Points to Coast
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The Nation (Nairobi)
10 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Charles Nyende
Nairobi
The leader board of the Kenyan Premier League may again change after this weekend's matches with four of the top five clubs in action.
League leaders Mathare United on 18 points, head down to the Coast to face hosts Bandari (seven points) in a difficult looking encounter at Mbaraki on Saturday, while third-placed Sher Karuturi (with 16 points) travel to Thika to face Thika United (14 points) on Sunday.
Former early season table toppers World Hope (16 points) entertain former champions Sony Sugar (14 points) at Hope centre on Sunday as reigning champions Tusker (15 points), currently in fifth position, test the hunger of Mathare Youth at Moi International Sports Centre on Saturday.
Second-placed Chemelil Sugar (18 points) is the only club on top of the log not seeing action this weekend. Mathare United are not leading for nothing. With 18 goals thus far in the season, they are the most prolific team in the league and will want to maintain their free scoring ways.
Mathare coach Francis Kimanzi will welcome the return of their season revelation, striker Francis Ouma from trials in Belgium.
He will team up with Chrispine Oduor, Joseph Nyanga and Anthony Khadudi. But the man who has been making Mathare tick is midfielder Austine Makacha who seems to be getting back the touch of his old self again. Makacha has also scored four goals.
Any team with the likes of current and former internationals Walter Odede, Philip Opiyo, Ali Breik, Haji Mwachoki and Victor Ali has no business hanging around the basement of the league table but Bandari find themselves languishing second last after the first quarter.
The Coast side have reeled in the services of experience coach Twahir Muhiddin to help turn round their fortunes. They will be hard to beat at home even without injured Kenya international Anthony Dafar.
Scoring problem
Sher Karuturi, fifth last season, have maintained tabs with the leaders thanks to the meanest defence in the league so far that has let in a measly three goals.
They will fancy a win against an erratic Thika United that lost 0-3 away to Chemelil a week ago.
Word Hope look to be running out of steam after their sprint start that saw them lead the table for several weeks. Silas Aluvisa and Arthur Museve their leading scorers with three each have drawn blank lately.
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The Kawangware side could only manage a barren draw at home to KCB last weekend to underline John "Bobby" Ogola's new found scoring problem.
They will be severely tested by a Sony side eager to recover from an unexpected 1-0 loss to Mathare a week ago.
Unsettled Gor Mahia under their third coach this season - Allan Thigo - face Western Stima who are without their coach Nick Yakhama who has stepped down. The match has been moved by Western Stima to Kisumu from Bukhungu stadium.
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