Ouna facing baptism of fire as tattered Mathare United play title chasing KCB

Mathare United play KCB on Wednesday, 19 May, 2021 for the first time in more than a year in a rescheduled Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match at Ruaraka Grounds with a new coach.

The big question surrounding this match is whether the new coach Frank Ouna will have an immediate impact on the team and help turn the tides for the Slum Boys.

The encounter will feature two teams in the extreme ends of the table and in form this season, with KCB being among the best sides so far this season while the Slum Boys continue to languish in the relegation zone.

Currently KCB occupy the 4th position on the log with 30 points and will be seeking to narrow the gap with Tusker who sit at the top of the table with 34 points.

Mathare on the other hand sit at the bottom with 7 points from 14 games.

Since KCB regained promotion to the top tier, they have faced off with Mathare United thrice with none of the two teams showing dominance in those three encounters where they have won one match apiece and drawn the other.

While KCB have had a stellar performance winning all the first six games and topping the table, Mathare have been in the relegation zone all season.

Ouna has made it clear that he will tackle the challenge thrown to him head-on, starting with this game.

Ouna noted that despite being the underdogs in this game, they will approach it with all the seriousness it deserves and that it will be a test to the players to show their fighting spirit.

"We have only had a session, so the challenge to my players is to show me how much fighting spirit they in them. We start as underdogs, but size counts for nothing," he said.

With only 7 points from 14 matches, Mathare have an uphill task to avoid relegation but Ouna has said that he will work towards propelling Mathare up the log to avoid the drop.

"I will use all of the knowledge and experience I have picked up during a 12-year coaching career, as well as the help of staff around me and of course the brilliant playing unit, to try and propel MUFC up the Premier League table," he added

KCB's head coach Zedekiah Otieno 'Zico' has intimated that this encounter will not be an easy game despite their position in the table as well as their form this season.

"It will not be an easy game. In football, positions do not matter. Mathare will always be a good team and considering that they have a new coach may be they will be a bit motivated. For us, we go into matches to win and it will not be different from any other game we play.For us, we go into matches to win and it will not be different from any other game we play." Zico told Mozzart Sport.

KCB will miss on the services of three of their key players again in Rama Mwenda, Michael Mutinda, and Simon Abuko. The three are all out with injuries. they will also miss on Curtis Wekesa who was sent off against Tusker on Saturday.