FKFPL: Sofapaka, Tusker highlight week eight action

Game week eight of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) is set to commence on Saturday, October 28 with five matches set to be played in various grounds across the country.

Gor Mahia are looking to continue with their strong start to the season as they seek a third consecutive win of the term against Bidco United in a match scheduled for Kasarani Main Stadium from 3 pm.

The defending league champions will play host to Antony Akhulia’s men in an FKFPL encounter with both sides out to bag maximum points. Last weekend, United drew 0-0 with Murang’a Seal at the Kasarani Annex, while at the Kasarani main stadium, Gor Mahia saw off Tusker FC by a solitary goal.

Prior to the match, K’Ogallo was on a streak of nine games without dropping points with the last defeat for the Johnathan McKinstry-coached side dating back to June in a 3-2 fall to Kakamega Homeboyz.

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Akhulia expects a tough outing after his charges as they have struggled to create a lot of open play chances this term and approach the match winless in the last seven encounters against the record league champions.

“Playing Gor Mahia is never easy, and that’s why I insist we should have done all we could to win against Murang’a Seal. Against Gor, we have to do better. We have to minimize the mistakes we make, be hungrier, and do better than we did last Sunday against Murang'a, where our performance was lethargic,” he said.

Gor will, however, miss the services of the trio of Emery Bayisenge (calf strain), Ernest Wendo (flu), and Gad Matthews (still ramping up) with their status for the Shabana game next Wednesday still questionable.

A win for Gor will lift them summit of the league suppose Posta Rangers drop points against Bandari Fc while maximum points for Bidco will move them up to third depending on results from other fields.

The match kicks off at 1500 EAT.

Sofapaka vs Tusker

At Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Sofapaka will be facing Tusker FC with the Ezekiel Akwana-coached Sofapaka hoping to build on last weekend's win against Police FC in a bid to change the fortunes of the club.

Under the tutelage of Robert Matano, Tusker approach the match determined to end the unwanted streak of three matches without a win with the club falling to Gor Mahia and Shabana earlier on picking a stalemate with FC Talanta, a performance that has piled pressure on Matano, the most successful coach in the country.

The brewers however boost off an incredible record in the fixture, having won the last three encounters and have failed to drop maximum points in nine of the last meetings with Sofapaka. Furthermore, the Ruaraka-housed club has the best defensive record in the tie as they are yet to concede a goal in the last four matchups against Saturday's opponent.

A win for Tusker will lift the limping twelve times Football Kenya Federation champions to sixth on the log while three points for Akwana’s troops will lift them out of the red zone for the first time this season.

Posta Rangers vs Bandari

At Kasarani Annex, league leaders Posta Rangers will be battling Bandari FC with John Kamau keen to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to FC Talanta.

Bandari who had a rough start to the season will be out to compound on their 1-0 win over Leopards last week and steer the John Baraza-managed side to higher heights among them grabbing a silverware this term.

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Rangers however have an unappealing defensive record in the fixture failing to keep a clean sheet in the last three games that the two had met.

Defeat for Rangers will have Gor leapfrog them at the helm of the table with Bandari climbing four steps up the ladder.

Muhoroni Youth vs Murang'a Seal

Elsewhere, the action returns to Muhoroni Stadium in one of the matches set to be on TV when Muhoroni Youth entertain Murang’a seal in the dreaded Got Alila shrine.

Both teams head into the match with contrasting forms as George Kingi M-seal is on a run of three games without tasting defeat while Muhoroni is on a streak of five games without a win.

Victory for the league debutants could take them top of the standings suppose other teams drop points.

In the other top-flight football set for Saturday, Police fresh from Sofapaka annihilation will play host to giant killers FC Talanta at the Police Pavilion Stadium.

FKF Premier League Week Eight Matches

Saturday, October 28th

3 PM- Kenya Police FC vs. FC Talanta

3 PM- (1.60) Gor Mahia (3.45) Bidco United FC (6.00)

3 PM- (4,00) Sofapaka FC (3.25) Tusker FC (1.90)

4 PM- Muhoroni Youth FC vs. Murang'a Seal FC

3 PM- (2.40)Posta Rangers FC (3.00) Bandari Football Club (3.00)

Sunday, October 29th

4 PM- Nzoia Sugar FC vs. AFC Leopards SC

1 PM- Nairobi City Stars FC vs. KCB FC,

3 PM-Ulinzi Stars FC vs. Shabana FC

3:15 PM-Kariobangi Sharks FC vs. Kakamega Homeboyz FC

**Odds are subject to change**