FKFPL: Nzoia take hunt for three points to Police doorstep as Gor return to old stomping yard

Football Kenya Federation Premier League log leaders Nzoia Sugar will be seeking to disarm Kenya Police FC and extend stay at the top when the two teams clash on Sunday afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Nzoia sit at the top with 21 points, a tally similar to that of the second placed KCB but their healthier goal difference gives them an edge over the Zedekiah Otieno coached bankers.

The sugarmen take on Police who have been firing from all cylinders from the time former Kenyan international Francis Baraza took over the reigns late last year.

Baraza has been in charge in the last six rounds where, the club, has won three matches and shared points in a similar number of duels.

They will be seeking to capitalize on home advantage and shoot down the visitors who alongside Gor Mahia have proved hard nuts to crack given that the two have lost a game each.

While Nzoia will be gunning to stay top, K'Ogalo will return to their old stomping yard in Kisumu where they are scheduled to play Vihiga Bullets.

The record Kenyan champions used to host a number of home matches in Kisumu in the past, but find themselves as the visitors today as Bullets elected to host the game there.

Gor are placed fifth on the log with seventeen points while Bullets are in the red zone so is Mathare United who have a date with Nairobi City Stars at Ruaraka grounds.

KCB vs Ulinzi

Sparks are expected to fly as two of the most in form teams in the league judging from the last five matches face off at Kasarani Stadium in a 3 PM kick off.

Ulinzi look to have turned a corner since their back to back opening defeats of the season as they have gone on an eight-game unbeaten run that has seen them ascend to fourth on the log.

The Bankers on the other hand have strung a run of four straight victories including wins over Gor Mahia, FC Talanta, Kariobangi Sharks and Nairobi City Stars which has taken them to joint top on the log.

KCB head coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno revealed that he is looking to extend his side’s purple patch when they face Ulinzi.

“For us we always prepare the same way, we prepare to go and win and this will not be any different,” said the former Harambee Stars head coach.

Bandari vs AFC Leopards (Mbaraki 3 PM)

Ingwe and the Dockers have been a pale shadow of themselves this season following inconsistent results that have left them battle in the mid table with 11-points a piece.

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AFC Leopards have only registered three wins this season which came against league strugglers Mathare United, Nairobi City Stars and an Ulinzi Stars that had a shaky start to the campaign.

Bandari on the other hand had a torrid start to the season and looked to have finally found their footing after two successive wins over Tusker and Vihiga Bullets but stumbled against Ulinzi Stars last time out.

Posta vs Sharks (Utalii 3 PM)

The Mailmen and Kariobangi Sharks are both out of form having failed to win any of their last four games with the latter winning only a single game this season.

William Muluya’s side problems lay on the rearguard as they have failed to keep a single clean sheet this season and have the fourth worst defensive record.

Posta on the other hand have only won one game in 2022 which came in the first game since the turn of the calendar against Bandari and will be looking to overwrite their poor form when they face Sharks.

Sofapaka vs Tusker - 1500EAT

Tusker head coach Robert Matano will be keen on seeing how his side react to a difficult run of form in their last three matches (D2 L1) when they take on tenth placed Sofapaka in their Sunday afternoon clash to be staged at Kasarani Annex Stadium.

Having recorded a staggering six victories in their opening six matches, the Brewers have struggled to replicate their blistering season start as they have not won in any of their last three matches.

"It was never going to be easy," Matano said ahead of their duel against Batoto ba Mungu, a team he guided to their first and only league title in 2009.

"A lot of factors are at play including fatigue and injuries," he added.

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While Tusker will be fixated on getting their groove back, Sofapaka head coach is also confident his team can have displayed decent performances especially in holding record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia.

"We are coming off a tough match against Gor Mahia on Wednesday. It was a solid test, and I am glad with how the lads responded and did well in the match.

I expect an equally tough encounter on Sunday against the Brewers because they are a direct-oriented team and very clinical in front of goal. They have been on a good run over the last two encounters, which will make Sunday’s match a tight battle because they will be coming all out to get back to winning ways and we too will be working towards bouncing back to winning ways too, so I expect a close tie, he said.

In the past 29 meetings between the two sides, Sofapaka and Tusker registered 10 and 7 wins, respectively, while the other twelve encounters ended in draws.

Tusker however emerged 2-0 winners in the last glash between the two sides.

In the early clash of the day, Talanta will take on Bidco United at 1300 EAT at the Kasarani Annex.

Both teams head into the clash on the back of draws in their midweek clashes against Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz respectively.