Sofapaka’s away winning streak under threat from confident Leopards

When Leopards take on Sofapaka in Sportpesa Premier League’s round seven of the 2017 season, confidence is one item that will not be in short supply. Leopards are yet to lose at home with two wins and one draw out of the six they have played so far. Sofapaka are yet to lose away, having won three out of three so far. Some thing has to give surely.

It is bragging rights even in the last six matches played between the two giants of Kenyan football, who are enjoying a fruitful 2017 season in contrast to the difficult season they both had in 2016. Leopards have won twice and lost twice to Sofapaka, with the other two match-ups ending in draws. Interestingly Sofapaka were the last to enjoy an away win in this fixture, beating Leopards 1-2 at their own backyard.

Is the same fate awaiting Leopards as a rejuvenated Sofapaka come visiting? With four wins out of six played so far, Leopards will feel they have a big chance to make an early statement about their 2017 targets by handing Sofapaka their first away defeat of the season. After all, this is the first big rival Sofapaka are facing away this season after coming away with wins from their travels to Western Stima, Mathare United and Zoo Kericho respectively. Today’s encounter could finish with a 2-1 triumph for Leopards, or a 2-2 draw.

Tusker hope to move up the log as they host newcomers Nakumatt

Tusker will hope to ease a difficult start to the 2017 season when they host newcomers Nakumatt in the seventh round of the Sportpesa Premier League (SPL). After opening the season with two straight defeats, the beermen of Ruaraka are unbeaten in the last four though three of those are draws.

 The defending champions’ last match will offer them alot of encouragement as they take on a side that have lost three of their six matches played so far, two of those defeats coming while playing away to Bandari and Kariobangi Sharks.

 Tusker were expected to lose to an inform Gor Mahia in their last match but came away with a draw. Their two matches before the Gor tie were against heavyweights Ulinzi and Sofapaka but they emerged with decent 1-1 and 2-2 draws respectively. The last three results will surely have boosted their confidence and Nakumatt might suffer the consequences. This will be the first meeting between the clubs and a 2-0 win to Tusker might be on the cards 

Ulinzi in search of vengeance as they face struggling Mathare United at home

When Ulinzi Stars host a once again struggling Mathare United, they will surely have vengeance top-most in their minds, and with memories of the 2016 season still fresh in their thoughts. 

The two Sportpesa Premier League (SPL) clubs have developed a rivalry that has seen them thrive more when facing each other away but this might not be the case this time round when the ‘Slum Boys’ from Nairobi land in Nakuru for their latest encounter with the soldiers in round six of the 2017 SPL.

Mathare United have the upper hand in the ten encounters played between the two, winning four times and drawing thrice. Ulinzi have three wins but will surely remember that the 'Slum Boys' did the double over them last season, winning 0-2 in Nakuru and 1-0 in their Nairobi backyard. Interestingly, the teams had enjoyed playing away to each other before the 'Mathare United double'. 

With the slum boys  currently languishing in relegation territory, Ulinzi might fancy restoring head to head parity by giving Mathare United another beating and sending them back to Nairobi empty handed.

Mathare’s only win so far this season came at home in their first match of the 2017 SPL season. They followed up this victory with two 0-0 away draws and two home defeats. They could now suffer their third defeat of the season or, at best, contintue with their early season form of drawing away. The correct score might be 1-0 or 0-0.

Leopards' title credentials face stern test against inconsistent Thika United

Leopards have had a surprisingly strong start to the 2017 season, considering their struggles in recent seasons both on and off the pitch. After the five Sportpesa Premier League (SPL) rounds so far, Ingwe have won three times, drawn once and lost once.

The recent underachievers of Kenyan football currently sit in position six of the log and travel to face a 13th placed Thika United who have lost all their three away matches so far, but are yet to lose at home - having already secured two wins out of the two played at home.

Recent encounters between Leopards and Thika United have tended to favour the home team, with Leopards winning two and drawing one of their last three home matches while Thika United have won the last three played at their ground.

Once the duelling on the pitch is done, Thika United will have likely scored a fourth consecutive win and inflicted the second loss of the season on Ingwe. The correct score could be 2-0 or 2-1 in favour of Thika United. 

Gor seek to pile more misery on Tusker in SPL match of the weekend

Sportpesa Premier League (SPL) defending champions Tusker face high flying Gor Mahia having won only one match out of the five they have played so far this season. If it was in the beermen's power they would have asked that this fixture be moved forward so they could first get over their early season blues that have pushed them into the unfamiliar relegation territory of the log.

After losing their first two matches (2-5 at home to Nzoia United and 2-0 away to Thika United Tusker stopped the rot with a 1-0 home win against Chemelil Sugar but have since drawn their last two matches (2-2 away to Sofapaka and 1-1 against Ulinzi Stars at home). This form has seen them sit together with Nakumatt (16 position), Muhoroni Youth (17) and whipping boys Zoo Kericho at the bottom of the SPL table.

On their part, Gor, who had won the SPL title three times in a row before being dethroned by Tusker in 2016, already find themselves perched at the summit of the table and will go into today's tie full of confidence. The most successful club in Kenya have so far raked up four wins (only losing 2-1 away to Western Stima) and will surely have revenge as a top agenda item considering that Tusker beat them 1-0 home and away on their way to the title last year.

The head to head record between the two giants of Kenyan football reads three wins for Gor Mahia and two for Tusker (interestingly all these five wins have seen a 1-0 score line) and one draw (a 1-1 tie recorded in September 2014).

Today's match-up will likely end within the Under goals territory again and I see Gor emerging 1-0 winners.