The National Super League returns this afternoon after a mid season break
National Super League leaders Western Stima will travel to Mombasa to take on sixth placed Modern Coast Rangers as the second leg of the National Super League kicks off this weekend.
So tight is the battle for promotion that only six points separate the two sides in the standings and Stima will be looking to win by all costs to ensure their lead at the top remains intact.
The powermen who were relegated from the top tier last season have kept their hunt intact but had a slump towards the end of the first leg going three matches without a win, drawing twice and losing once against third placed Nairobi Stima.
Against a side they comfortably beat 2-0 in the first leg, Richard Makumbi’s men will walk into the tie with confidence.
Meanwhile, second placed Ushuru who are two points behind Stima will be away to Administration Police at the Thika Stadium, seeking to win and bridge the gap between them and the leaders. If they win and Stima lose, then Ken Kenyatta’s men will be going up the rankings.
“We have had a good campaign in the first leg despite the fact that we started the season slow. This is the business end of the league and we need to chase for one of those two automatic promotion slots,” said coach Kenyatta.
Last season, Ushuru narrowly missed out on promotion, having lost 1-0 to Thika United in the play-off having finished third in the regular season. This year though, Kenyatta wants nothing short of a top two finish.
The taxmen have won four of their last five games and enter into the tie beaming with confidence against an AP side that is struggling at 17th in the 19-team league. The law enforcers have lost three of their last five games and won the other two.
Elsewhere, third placed Nairobi Stima will play Nairobi City Stars at the Karuturi Grounds in what is viewed as the fixture of the weekend. Stima are on 34 points and also hunting for the promotion slots while former KPL side City Stars are ninth with 28 points.
City Stars are unbeaten in the last five games picking three wins and two draws while Stima are on a run of decent form with four wins off their last five games. Coach Ibrahim Shikanda knows it will be a tough game but with the dream of promotion, he has promised his side will give their all to battle for three points.
Weekend fixtures
Saturday
St. Joseph’s Youth vs Kisumu All Stars (Afraha Stadium, 1 pm)
GFE 105 vs Kibera Black Stars (Sudi Stadium, 3 pm)
Nairobi Stima vs Nairobi City Stars (Karuturi Grounds, 3 pm)
Administration Police vs Ushuru (Thika Stadium, 1 pm) LIVE on Bamba Sports
Bidco United vs Kangemi All-Stars (Thika Stadium, 3.15 pm) LIVE on Bamba Sports
Sunday
Nakuru All-Stars vs Isibania (Afraha Stadium, 11 am)
FC Talanta vs Kenya Police (Camp Toyoyo, 2 pm)
Coast Stima vs Green Commandos (Mbaraki Grounds, 1 pm)
Modern Coast Rangers vs Western Stima (Mbaraki Grounds, 3.15 pm)