FKF D1A League returns this weekend after a 2 week hiatus with 5 matches on Saturday and 4 on Sunday.
League leading Karioabangi
Sharks hope to extend their chances for promotion when they play away at
Gatundu Stars.Mathare United attempt to start the recovery process by warding off
Mombasa’s (and another promo favorite) Bandari.The promotion contest has been
tightened by late match heroics from Bidco United and Administration Police.Perennially
mid-table seaters, they have joined the list of genuine contenders for
promotion. Administration Police,Ligi Ndogo and Mahakama hope to pull from the
gridlock that has them knotted with the same points but separated by only goal
differences.
Here is a look at all the
matches and a short preview, and of course a quick glance at the teams’ chances.
In brackets are the teams’ current league positions.
In brackets are the teams’ current league positions.
Gatundu Stars (16)
v Kariobangi Sharks (1) Sun 8 Thika 3pm
First Round
Sharks 3 v Gatundu 1
Sharks got their clean sheet chequered for the only the
second time with the scarlet L on the road to Bandari.
Sharks jawed their way into pole post on 2nd
April and have never let go since. They lead the league with 40 points and are
giving everybody neck cramps as they look to dislodge them from the top.They are
one of the two teams that finished the first round unbeaten at home (Bandari is
the other).
However, Sharks closed the season on a sour note after
laying off for two weeks with five of their players serving on international duty.
The Sharks bricked on their last five matches dropping an uncharacteristic 8
points after losing at Moyas,tying at lowly Berets and the coastal soak to
Bandari.
They however,displayed a collective maturity, poise and focus in the losing effort against a very physical and well drilled Bandari side.
Gatundu United were the
first and only team to award a walk-on, the ultimate embarrassment for any team
in organized sport. They failed to honor a fixture against Coast’s Bandari and
in the process forfeited 3 points,and face possible disciplinary action.
However their play has not
been downright sub-par. They
had flashes of brilliance and at one point, ran consecutive wins over Nairobi Stima,Moyas and Green Berets.They go into this match as underdogs at home,having lost their last three matches. They have won once at home, so have Sharks on the road,who are negotiating a bend, and hope to use this match to steady back to their formidable form.
had flashes of brilliance and at one point, ran consecutive wins over Nairobi Stima,Moyas and Green Berets.They go into this match as underdogs at home,having lost their last three matches. They have won once at home, so have Sharks on the road,who are negotiating a bend, and hope to use this match to steady back to their formidable form.
Comparison of the last
six games (last game is on the right)
Gatundu
|
W
|
W
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
Sharks
|
W
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
Scored goals last 6
games
Gatundu
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Sharks
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
Opponents scored goals
last 6 games
Gatundu
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
Sharks
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
Performance last 6 games
W
(H)
|
W
(A)
|
D
(H)
|
D
(A)
|
L
(H)
|
L
(A)
| |
Gatundu
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
Sharks
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
Mahakama (6) v Nairobi Stima (7) Sat 7 JTI 3pm
First Round Nairobi
Stima 0 v Mahakama 0
This is the fifth time these former FKL foes will be meeting. Their four previous encounters ended in two drab draws and,in one,Stima shocking Mahakama 1-0 at JTI on 4th September last year.
Mahakama,who are perennial contenders,stymied
themselves when they dropped 5 points in their last three matches. They scored
and let in 2 goals in their last 6 matches but dropped 11 of a possible 18
points.
Stima won one of their last 6 matches on the road, tied
one and lost one. They let in 3 goals while scoring 8.They won 4 of their last
6 matches, tied once and lost once.
Though Stima are favored to win,Mahakama have not lost
at home in the last 6 games. Expect a tie.
Comparison of the last six games (last game is on the right)
Mahakama
|
D
|
D
|
W
|
D
|
D
|
L
|
NBI
Stima
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
W
|
D
|
W
|
Scored goals last 6
games
Mahakama
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
NBI
Stima
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
Opponents scored goals
last 6 games
Mahakama
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
NBI
Stima
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Performance last 6 games
W
(H)
|
W
(A)
|
D
(H)
|
D
(A)
|
L
(H)
|
L
(A)
| |
Mahakama
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
NBI
Stima
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
Mathare Youth (20) v Bandari (2):Sat 7 City Stadium 3pm
First Round Bandari
1 v Mathare Youth 1
Tailgaters,Mathare Youth,ironically,were the first team in this league to get points off Bandari at the Coast.After that they went on a lull dropping 9 consecutive matches before the recent turn of events saw them back on track again.Though they finished the first round with a loss, they showed flashes of brilliance in a 3-2 loss to Sharks, a tie versus Ligi Ndogo and registered their first consecutive wins shocking Moyas on the road and Green Berets at home.
Still it won’t be enough to unseat former premier side
Bandari who have had a remarkable run of their own.The dockers were slow
getting off the block.They were held by Moyas in their first match,then had
consecutive losses at Stima and Bidco.They recently found their footing and at
the turn of the bend racked up 3 consecutive wins to go second in the league.And
in utter show of gutso,they followed instructions to the letter outlasting a
very resilient Kariobangi Sharks team.
Though Bandari have often struggled on the road-they
have not won in the last 6 games,and only 2 times in the last 19 games- their
latest resolve should see them through this one.
Comparison of the last
six games (last game is on the right)
Mathare
|
L
|
L
|
D
|
W
|
W
|
L
|
Bandari
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
Scored goals last 6
games
Mathare
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
Bandari
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
Opponents scored goals
last 6 games
Mathare
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Bandari
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Performance last 6 games
W
(H)
|
W
(A)
|
D
(H)
|
D
(A)
|
L
(H)
|
L
(A)
| |
Mathare
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
Bandari
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
Green Berets (19) v Magongo Rangers (14): Sat 7 Ruiru 3pm
First Round Magongo
Rangers 2 v Green Berets 1
Green Berets have always needed a stimulus to get motivated. Most often, It is rammed down their throats by a steely eyed drill sergeant after a dud run. This will not be an exception. They ran a string of losses earlier in the season and after some hardnosed glare they went on an unlikely run. The most memorable was a 5-1 home rout of Iron Strikers emblazoned with a rare win at the coast over Mombasa’s own, Coast United.
Magongo closed the season
in style bringing to an end an iconic home run by Ligi Ndogo who had not lost
at home in 34 matches. They almost fledged at home to a hapless Bidco United who
flopped on the spot to hand them a share of the spoils.
Now they are once again on the ropes.after going
winless in their last 6 (not that they win a lot) they sit on
the Mariana of the league and may book an appointment at the sound of
the beagle.Maybe they already have.In their last match,they tied leaders K
Sharks in a goalless draw.This is the turnaround. The next match is the
confirmation as they fall out of lose mode.
Comparison of the last
six games (last game is on the right)
Berets
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
D
|
Magongo
|
W
|
L
|
L
|
D
|
W
|
D
|
Scored goals last 6
games
Berets
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Magongo
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
Opponents scored goals
last 6 games
Berets
|
4
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
Magongo
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Performance last 6 games
W
(H)
|
W
(A)
|
D
(H)
|
D
(A)
|
L
(H)
|
L
(A)
| |
Berets
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
Magongo
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
KRA (13) v Coast United(14):Sat 7 City Stadium 3pm
First Round Coast
United 0 v KRA 2
The Kenya Revenue Authority face Coast United in a match
that they should easily win but will not.K.R.A have always started well but but
have folded when they are least expected to perform,and come out snapping when
you least expect them to.They will come out fighting in this one,but against a
Coast United side that has won two of their last matches, they will be short.
Of note is the K.R.A scoreline.K.R.A has scored only 3
goals and conceded 5 in their last 6 matches.
Coast United has had a somewhat solid record on the road, losing once and tying three times. They have scored 4 goals and conceded 3 for an impressive 9 points in their last 6 matches. Comparatively, K.R.A has 5 after 2 ties at home and win. They lost one of their last 6 at home.
Comparison of the last
six games (last game is on the right)
K.R.A
|
L
|
D
|
L
|
L
|
D
|
W
|
C.United
|
D
|
D
|
L
|
D
|
W
|
W
|
Scored goals last 6
games
K.R.A
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
C.United
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Opponents scored goals
last 6 games
K.R.A
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
C.United
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Performance last 6 games
W
(H)
|
W
(A)
|
D
(H)
|
D
(A)
|
L
(H)
|
L
(A)
| |
K.R.A
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
C.United
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
More on Upcoming matches :Ligi Ndogo v Celtic and more