Mururi out to get first win against Nzoia

Western Kenya sides Nzoia Sugar and Vihiga United are set to take on each other for the fifth time in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match set to be played at Sudi Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

After a series of unfortunate and inconsistent results, both teams would not have had a much better break than the over two weeks they have had to sharpen their tools as a number of the other top flight clubs battled in the knockout Football Kenya Federation Cup tournament.

Since pulling a stunning defeat against defending league champions Gor Mahia back in February, hosts Nzoia have not won any of their last five games, drawing three and losing two.

Currently, Nzoia sit in 14th place on 17 points, worryingly five points above the drop zone and goalkeeper coach Peter Mwaura understands that they need to work their way up as soon as possible.

“We definitely need to get out of that area as soon as possible, we do not want to find ourselves in a situation where we are fighting relegation. Everyone in the team understands that we need to work towards achieving that goal,” he told Mozzart Sport.

And if things look bleak for sugar milling Nzoia, then county funded Vihiga have had even more problems. Just two wins in eighteen games so far played this season have seen the club struggle and consequently flirt dangerously with the relegation places.

That poor run of form led to the dismissal of former coach Sammy Omoth and the reappointment of Mike Mururi who has already suffered two consecutive defeats since appointment, the last being a 4-0 demolition at the hands of current log leaders Tusker.

Muiruri however was optimistic that the two-week break will help his new team better understand his way of playing and philosophy.

“After this break, I can say that I am 100% sure that we will win our next game, despite it being an away game I am confident that we will pick maximum points. But the players first need to develop character, they must be strong character-wise. They need to understand how I want things done. On the ball and off it. But they will gain the discipline with more training sessions,” the head coach said.

The players however have fond memories to look back to. Nzoia was one of the only two clubs they have managed to beat this 2020/2021 season and with the millers only five points ahead of them, Muiruri will find it slightly easier to convince the players to gift him a first win as the season starts approaching the business end.

History however draws the two sides level as in the five occasions the two teams have met, either side has won two matches and the remaining fixture ending in a barren draw.

On the day however, this game will be a perfect opportunity to grab three very valuable points for either side that can grab them.

The match kicks off at 1500 EAT.