Vihiga United plot KPL return at Mumias
New Vihiga United coach Sammy Okoth during his unveiling at the Kidundu Stadium in Vihiga County on April 19, 2019.
What you need to know:
- The first leg of the clash, whose winner will gain promotion to the top tier league, had initially been scheduled for Friday but Football Kenya Federation has moved it to Saturday
- Okoth says playing the first leg at home is an added advantage and he will be going for early goals to gain control of the reverse fixture
- Kisumu All Stars coach Andrew Aroka is confident of staging an upset in Mumias despite his charges going without salary for the last five months
Vihiga United coach Sammy Okoth will be looking to start their two-leg Kenyan Premier League/ National Super League promotion play-off on a high when they host Kisumu All Stars at Mumias Sugar Complex in the first leg on Saturday.
The first leg of the clash, whose winner will gain promotion to the top tier league, had initially been scheduled for Friday but Football Kenya Federation has moved it to Saturday. The second leg will be played on Tuesday at Moi Stadium in Kisumu.
Okoth says playing the first leg at home is an added advantage and he will be going for early goals to gain control of the reverse fixture.
“Starting at home is important to us because a win will give us an advantage heading to the second leg. We shall also have studied our opponent’s tactics after the match so that we can get a positive result in the away match. We have intensified training and are ready for the match,” Okoth told Nation Sport.
New Vihiga United coach Sammy Okoth during his unveiling at the Kidundu Stadium in Vihiga County on April 19, 2019.
Kisumu All Stars coach Andrew Aroka is confident of staging an upset in Mumias despite his charges going without salary for the last five months. He believes they can win both legs and remain in the topflight.
“Our intention is to remain in the league and if we get a good result away then we shall have an easy job at home. We shall finalise our training on Thursday and then travel to Mumias on Friday. Kisumu All Stars can’t afford to go back to NSL and we shall fight to remain in the league,” said Aroka.
On Wednesday, players from both teams underwent mandatory Covid-19 test which is one of the measures put in place by the Ministry of Health as sporting activities continue to resume in phases.
Posta Rangers Gerson Likono (right) vies for the ball with Kisumu All Stars' Mark Kwasira during their Kenyan Premier League match at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu on January 12, 2020.
To qualify for the play-offs, Vihiga United finished behind NSL leaders Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United in the 2019/20 season which was abruptly stopped due to the virus.
All Stars on the other hand finished 16th in their maiden season with nine points from 22 matches.
FKF have set November 20 as the tentative kick-off date for the new season with the transfer window set to close on Monday.
