Posta lay ambush for Leopards, Gor wary of Sony threat

Posta Rangers Head Coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno is optimistic a win against AFC Leopards on Wednesday is all they need to get their season back on track.

The seventh placed team in the Kenya Premier League (KPL) log looked like genuine title contenders in the first leg before the wheels came off in the second half and are on a run of five games without victory.

“My players are focused and have been giving their all in training so you never know. Our winning streak might start with them. This is what football is about and there can only be three outcomes,” the gaffer underscored.

“The teams above us are also going through hard times. In the first leg of the season we enjoyed a good run and it is just a matter of time before we get back to our best,” he added.

The former Harambee Stars tactician bemoaned suspect officiating in the league.

“I would like to emphasize referees should watch what calls they make because these crucial decisions end up influencing the outcome of the game and as a coach it becomes very frustrating,” Otieno told Citizen Digital.

The Mailmen have missed the services of top scorer Timothy Otieno who has netted four due to injury and should be wary of a Leopards side that is enjoying resurgence, picking up seven points in their last three games.

Ingwe are ninth on the table on 24 points and will be hoping to get a first league win since they elected their new Chairman Dan Mule into office.

-Gor wary-

At the same time, champions Gor Mahia’s assistant coach, Tom Ogweno, has warned against overlooking teams in the bottom half ahead of their crunch clash against Sony Sugar.

“At the moment there are no small teams in the KPL and playing Sony away has always been a tough fixture. If you focus on the teams at the top you end up ignoring the other teams which at the end of the day comes back to bite you,” he added.

“Our players are versatile that’s why we have been using different styles of play, deploying Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma and Godfrey Walusimbi as wingers so we can figure out their best positions.

“Francis Kahata and Ernest Wendo have also tried out the holding midfield position and we believe we have figured out our best style of play,” he explained.

Top of the table Tusker FC will be looking to rubber stamp their title credentials when they host struggling Thika United.

The Brewers who dropped crucial points to bottom side Sofapaka last time are hopeful they can extend their three point lead at the summit.

Fourth placed Mathare United will be seeking to get back to winning ways when they travel to Kakamega to face a resurgent Homeboyz side that has not lost in the league since the start of the second leg.

Mid-week fixtures

Ushuru FC vs Western Stima

Nairobi City Stars vs Chemelil Sugar

Muhoroni Youth FC vs Ulinzi Stars

Kakamega Homeboyz vs Mathare United

Bandari vs Sofapaka

Sony Sugar vs Gor Mahia

Tusker FC vs Thika United

Posta Rangers vs AFC Leopards