All eyes on midfielder Muguna as Gor Mahia, Police clash
Kenneth Muguna (left) of Kenya Police FC celebrate a goal with Mangeni Alvin during a league match against AFC Leopards at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on September 23, 2023.
What you need to know:
- Four fixtures are on the cards on Saturday, with another five matches on Sunday.
- On Thursday, Muguna said on social media that he is ready for Saturday’s match.
Fireworks are expected on Saturday when Gor Mahia play Kenya Police in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
At the same time, high-scoring AFC Leopards will come up against Sofapaka at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday.
The league enters the 14th round of matches this weekend, with leaders KCB, who are on four-match winless run, clashing with Shabana on Saturday at Gusii Stadium in Kisii.
Four fixtures are on the cards on Saturday, while another five will be staged on Sunday across different venues in the country.
Gor Mahia’s clash with Kenya Police has already drawn a lot of reaction, with controversy surrounding Kenneth Muguna, the law enforcers’ midfielder who also played at Gor Mahia.
K’Ogalo fans have been critical of Muguna, who famously celebrated wildly in front of them after scoring last season, something that did not go down well with the fans.
On that day, Kenya Police beat Gor 3-1 at Police Sacco Stadium on February 3, ending K’Ogalo’s 19-match unbeaten run in the top league.
Apart from Muguna, Ugandan-born South Sudanese attacker, Tito Okello, who has since left Kenya Police, netted a brace in the game.
Since that day Muguna has been a marked man in the eyes of Gor Mahia fans.
On Thursday, Muguna posted a picture on his social media pages saying he was ready for Saturday’s match.
Muguna scored two goals in his team’s 3-0 win over Bidco United midweek, and he is the man to watch in a match, which is expected to be a cracker.
While Gor have been struggling on the pitch recently, Kenya Police seems to have picked up under new Burundian Coach Etienne Ndayiragije after struggling for the better part of the season, spending long spells at the bottom of the table.
Under coach Ndayiragije, Kenya Police have scored seven goals in their last three matches, wining all of them.
At Gor Mahia, caretaker coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno is already facing pressure of being pushed out of his role. Otieno replaced Brazilian Leonardo Neiva, who was sacked on November 13 following a string of poor results.
Otieno escaped the wrath of Gor’s fans by dashing to the dressing room after 1-1 against Shabana, and 1-0 loss to Bidco United recently.
Dropping points against Kenya Police will spell doom for Otieno even as a section of fans have started pushing the club management to bring in a foreign coach.
After 11 matches, Gor are fourth in the standings on 18 points, while Kenya Police are seventh with a point less having played the same number of matches.
Gor have won thrice, Kenya Police have had one victory while one match has ended in a draw in the five meetings between the two sides.
AFC Leopards who are basking in the glory of beating Tusker 4-1 in the midweek will have an uphill task to beat Sofapaka who have immensely improved this season.
Batoto ba Mungu under the tutalege of Robert Matano, a Leopard fan, held leaders KCB to a barren draw at Dandora Stadium in the midweek clash.
Sofapaka have not lost in their last three matches, beating Kariobangi Sharks 2-1, thumping Ulinzi Stars 4-1 before their barren draw against KCB.
Ingwe are also unbeaten in their last three matches, their loss being going down to Shabana 2-1 on November 27. Leopards have not beaten Sofapaka in their last seven meetings
The last time The Big Cats bagged a victory against Batoto ba Mungu was on December 12, 2020.
An identical 1-1 draw has dominated the meetings with Sofapaka winning once and that was on June 26 2023 when they emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline.
Leopards are fifth on 18 points from 12 matches while Sofapaka are eighth on 17 points having played a game more.
League Fixtures (All matches kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise)
Saturday:
Nairobi City Stars v FC Talanta (Utalii, Nairobi)
Kenya Police v Gor Mahia (Sportpesa Arena, Murang’a)
Mara Sugar v Kariobangi Sharks (Awendo, Migori, 2pm)
Kakamega Homeboyz v Ulinzi Stars (Mumias Complex, Kakamega, 2pm)
Sunday:
Shabana v KCB (Gusii, Kisii, 2pm)
Tusker v Bidco United (Dandora Nairobi, 1pm)
Sofapaka v AFC Leopards (Dandora, Nairobi, 4pm)
Bandari v Mathare United (Ukunda, Kwale)
Murang’a Seal v Posta Rangers (SportPesa Arena, Murang’a)
