NSL Round Two: Naivas, Nzoia seek early momentum as Mwatate, Kabati Youth and Equity set for key clashes

The FKF National Super League (NSL) returns this weekend for round two action, with a full slate of fixtures lined up across various venues on Saturday, 4 October, and Sunday, 5 October.

The race for early dominance in the country’s second-tier competition is already taking shape, with several intriguing match-ups on the card as teams look to build on or recover from their opening weekend results.

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At the Kenyatta University Grounds (KHIBT), last season’s third-placed finishers Naivas FC will host Mully Children’s Family (MCF) in what promises to be one of the weekend’s headline fixtures.

The retailers, still nursing the pain of last season’s near miss after falling short in the promotion play-offs, are determined to avoid early setbacks as they renew their quest for top-flight football.

Their 1–0 victory over Fortune Sacco in the season opener, courtesy of a well-taken strike by Francis Nambute, set the tone for what they hope will be a more decisive campaign.

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For MCF, the trip to Nairobi comes with pressure to respond following a disappointing start to the season.

The Vincent Nyaberi-coached side suffered a narrow 1–0 home defeat to newcomers Mombasa United at Ndalani Complex last weekend and will be eager to bounce back and register their first points of the campaign.

History, however, favours Naivas. Since their first meeting in 2021, the two sides have faced off eight times, with Naivas winning five and MCF three.

The Elvis Ayany-led Naivas also did the double over MCF last season, winning both legs 1–0. That record, combined with their confident start, gives the hosts a psychological edge heading into the 3 p.m. kickoff.

A win would see Naivas take an early lead in the 20-team league standings, while MCF will be equally motivated to upset the odds and keep pace with the early-season frontrunners.

In Wundanyi, Mwatate United will host Nzoia Sugar in what will be a historic return to their home ground, three years after they last played there. Their previous outing at the venue ended in a 5–0 defeat to Naivas, a result that was followed by off-pitch court battles.

This time, Mwatate are determined to script a redemption story before their home faithful.

The Taita Taveta-based side endured a tough start to their campaign, narrowly losing 1–0 to Migori Youth on opening weekend. Head coach Michael Kioni will be hoping for a stronger showing as they face one of the division’s promotion favourites.

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Nzoia Sugar, relegated from the FKF Premier League last season, began their NSL journey on a high after beating 3K FC 2–1 at the Sudi Stadium.

Felix Seda’s second-half brace ensured a positive start for Charles Odero’s men as they laid early foundations for a swift return to top-flight football.

A victory in Wundanyi would see Nzoia cement their position at the summit of the table and maintain their 100% record, while another loss would plunge Mwatate further into the bottom zone of the standings.

At Vapour Grounds in Kawangware, Equity Bank FC, recently formed following a successful merger with SamWest Black Boost, will face Kabati Youth FC, one of the league’s new entrants.

Equity began life in the second tier with a commendable 1–1 draw away to Luanda Villa at Mumboha Grounds. The bankers showed resilience and tactical discipline, and head coach John Mwangi Mbezwa will be keen to register the club’s first-ever NSL victory in front of their home supporters.

Their opponents, Kabati Youth, will also be eyeing their maiden win at this level. The Murang’a-based outfit showed promise in their opening match against Vihiga United, rallying from behind to share the spoils in a one-all draw at Thika Stadium.

Coach Joe Mungai will look to build on that performance, confident that his youthful side can surprise their more experienced hosts.

Victory for either Equity or Kabati Youth would lift them to four points and potentially within touching distance of the early pacesetters depending on other results.

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