KPL week one preview
by Collins Okinyo 08 February 2012, 08:12
After two months of waiting anxiously football fans across the country brace themselves for a bumper weekend with the commencement of the Kenyan Premier league over the weekend with with eight matches lined up across the country in a feisty atmosphere expected to be ignited all over the country.
Three matches will be live on SuperSport 9 with defending champions Tusker hoping to begin the league on a positive note.New comers Oserian and Muhoroni youth will also take to the pitch.As usual we will be giving our match prediction every week in our previews .
Saturday February 11
Tusker vs City Stars (City Stadium live on SuperSport 9)
Defending champions Tusker take on relegation survivors City Stars in a duel that promises thrilling action.Both sides have recruited heavily with Tusker's coach Sammy"Pamso"Omollo expecting a tight fight from his opposite number Gideon Ochieng.
Tusker will be buoyed after getting their first silver ware when they beat Gor Mahia 4-1 in post match penalties to lift the SuperSport/Dstv super cup.
Our Predictions:2-1
Muhoroni Youth vs Western Stima(Muhoroni)
New comers Muhoroni youth are a young potential vulnerable team but that is to say they least as they are expected to open their show against Western Stima who's coach Henry Omino has recruited some big names in the offseason the likes of Steve Biko,Justine Monda who will be doing duty alongside David Otieno and Kevin Oluoch..
However Muhoroni coach Imonje has brushed off sentiments that his team lacks experience as he has promised a gruelling battle against Stima in a do or die battle.
Our Prediction:1-3
AFC Leopards vs Chemelil Sugar(Nyayo Stadium)
AFC Leopards popularly known as Igwe will be hosting a Chemelil side that lost its most potent striker in Victor "Lotodo"Ochieng the player having moved to Leopards after a sparkling perfomance that saw him net ten goals for Chemelil.
However Chemelil coach Edward Manoah is not worried and hopes to turn the tables on Leopards who heavily recruited big names in Allan Wanga,Victor Ochieng and defender Eric Masika with coach Jan Koops hoping that the boardroom battles will not affect the team in the field of play.
Our Predictions:2-1
Sunday February 12
Rangers vs Oserian(Nyayo Stadium)
Rangers begun the 2011 season on a roller coaster but its not known if they can maintain the same tempo this season as they meet an Oserian side that has been out of the league four a couple of years.Rangers who have a new coach in Ezekiel Akwana will have to put their financial burdens behind them in the tricky fixture since they are not sure of their opponents strengths and weaknesses having been out for long.
However Rangers will be buoyed by the return of defender Pascal Ochieng who came back from trials in Malaysia.
Our Predictions:1-1
Thika United vs Gor Mahia(Thika Stadium live on SuperSport 9)
Thika United will be facing a star studded Gor Mahia in their backyard in Thika .Gor Mahia might have been rattled by their loss in the Super cup but the green army is definately a team to watch this season .
Instead of relying upon their usual ,direct economy ,Gor Mahia have become tempered with poise and delicacy and at the heart of the transformation is Cameroonian coach Anaba Awono who has a headache on the players to field .Needless to say the green army travelling fans will play a big role as they are expected to throng the Thika municipal stadium to cheer their boys on.
In recent years Gor Mahia has been characterised as a team that oozes power and authority combined with grace and artisty.
Our Predictions:1-3
Sony Sugar vs Mathare United(Gusii Stadium,Kisii)
Both Sony and Mathare will be handled with new coaches in Zedekiah "Zico"Otieno and Gabriel "Kingi"Njoroge who will be handling their first matches at the helm.
Sony might have lost some key players in the offseason but that not to mean they can be written off in a huff the same applies to Mathare United who whoever managed to scoop the biggest signing in midfield maestro Jamal Mohammed and striker Francis Ouma who are expected the slum boys.
Our predictions:1-1
KCB vs Ulinzi Stars(City Stadium)
KCB will be facing a rejuvenated Ulinzi side who missed the 2011 title by a whisker .Ulinzi have bolstered their squad with some remarkable signings as their 2011 team remains intact save for a few players who were dropped.
On the other hand KCB cannot be written off having acquired the services of their former hitman Ezekiel Odero who signed back from Gor Mahia.The match will be difficult but at the end of the day the fittest shall be known.
Our Predictions:1-2
Karuturi Sports vs Sofapaka(Karaturi)
Kpl 2009 champions Sofapaka will be travelling to Karuturi where they are expected to get a baptism of fire under new coach Salim Ali as they hope to cap a brialliant start to their league campaign.
Sofapaka have a descent squad that is capable of getting positive results but new Karuturi coach Micheal Nam is determined to short change the "Watoto Wa Mungu" since he has promised to give them a run for their money.
Our Predictions:1-3