Kenya Football .:. Story - Kpl Soccer Preview-march 5, 2010

BIG-Spending and reigning Kenya Premier League (KPL) Champions Sofapaka FC return back to the local soccer scene today after being eliminated from CAF champions League with a tricky tie against high-riding Kenya Commercial Bank(KCB) at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Likewise,AFC leopards who are licking their wounds after being bundled out of the CAF Confederation cup face a tricky fixture tomorrow (Sunday) when they host Thika United at the Nyayo National Stadium in a must win encounter.

But on a bad note, Football Kenya Limited (FKL) fixture secretary Ronnie Oyando who left the country on Thursday morning for London is counting his loses after thugs invaded his hotel room and made away with all his belongings including cash and credit cards.

Oyando, son of late legendary Joe Oyando in a E-mail message to our writer has appealed to 1,150 pounds from well wishers to clear his hotel bill and board the next plane back home. Oyando whose docket includes preparing the FKL Nationwide League fixtures is currently being detained in his hotel until he clears his bills. Nevertheless, it will be action-galore in the KPL action with seven matches on the menu.

Four matches have been lined up today and three others tomorrow. In addition, pay television SuperSports will hit the roof yet again with two coverage of live matches but this time out of Nairobi.

In today's matches,win -less Posta Rangers have a date against Ulinzi Stars at the Nairobi City Stadium.Chemelil Sugar will host their Sony Sugar counterparts at home with KCB tackling defending Champions Sofapaka at Nyayo National Stadium.Red Berets tie against rampant Western Stima at Afraha stadium will be beamed live this afternoon by SuperSport TV channel.

Tomorrow, Tusker FC coach James Nandwa will face his former club Sher Karuturi in Naivasha in a match to be shown live by Supersport Channel. Debutants Mahakama who displayed brilliant football last week despite losing narrowly with a solitary goal to KCB will try their luck against Nairobi City Stars at the Nairobi City Stadium. AFC Leopards will then take on Thika United at the Nyayo National Stadium. All matches kick off from 3pm.

In the FKL Nationwide League, newly promoted Congo United boasting of former AFC Leopards laid-off players like Robert Indimuli and Frankline Obare will welcome Compel(formerly Panpaper FC) at Mombasa Municipal Stadium while Thika Bidco will
this afternoon entertain AC Nakuru in Thika. Ken Kenyatta's Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will face Nairobi Stima at the Nairobi City Stadium from 12pm.

The major highlight tomorrow will be the clash pitting Bandari against Compel in Mombasa and Mathare Youth versus AC Nakuru at the Nairobi City Stadium from2pm. Nyayo National stadium will this afternoon host a potentially explosive tie pitting
Champions Sofapaka against unbeaten KCB. The Bankers have won their two consecutive matches against AFC Leopards(2-0) and Mahakama (1-0), thus confirming they are serious contenders.

The Bankers coached by Leonard Salleh incidentally lost over 10 key players last season led by Harambee Stars defender Pascal Ochieng but their new signings have proved a better bargaining and a major boost for the glamour team.

Sofapaka will be breathing fire to prove their critics wrong despite being bundled out of continental action by Ismailia of Egypt. Coach Robert Matano will field his usual regulars led by Goalkeeper Wilson Oburu, Thomas Wanyama, Kilonzo Tumba and Edgar "Fighter" Ochieng in defence while Captain James Situma, and Anthony Kimani will man the midfield. Harambee Stars striker John Barasa will lead the onslaught assisted by Patrick Kagogo, Bob 'Semenya” Mugalia and towering Humphrey Mieno for goals.

Sofapaka should however not underrate KCB. The Bankers are currently in robust form and it will require their opponents to be extra vigilant. Daniel Oluoch will stand between the posts with Eugene Wasike, Robert Syongo, Joseph Apindi, and Silas Chege taking care of their defence. Geoffrey Maina, Yusuf Abubakar, Tonny Onguro, Oscar Livondo and Job Endriseh are expected to give Sofapaka defence nightmares.

KPL / FKL .Nationwide League fixtures;

Today(KPL)-Posta Rangers v Ulinzi Stars(City Stadium),Chemelil Sugar v Sony Sugar(Chemelil),KCB v Sofapaka(Nyayo), Red Berets v Western Stima (Afraha- Live on SuperSport)

Nationwide League-Bidco v AC Nakuru (Thika),Strathmore University v Oserian(City
Stadium kick off 10am), KRA v Stima(City Stadium 12pm),Congo United v Compel(Msa Municipal).

Tomorrow(KPL)-Sher Karuturi v Tusker (Sher-Live on SS), Mahakama v City Stars(City), AFC Leopards v Thika Utd(Nyayo).

Nationwide League-Magongo Rangers v Homegrown (Refinery), Mathare Youth v AC Nakuru(City Stadium 2pm), Stima v Oserian(City Stadium 2pm), Bidco v Opera(Thika Municipal), Bandari v Compel(KPA).

ENDS.