NSL: Mara seeks to extend lead at the top

Mara Sugar will have a chance to open a four-point gap at the top of the National Super League (NSL) this afternoon when they face a stubborn Luanda Villa SC side at the Mumboha Grounds.

On Saturday, Mara's closest challenges for the promotion places dropped points. Mathare United drew 0-0 with the Dimba Patriots at the Kasarani Annex, while Naivas FC also dropped two points against the Vihiga Bullets, settling for a 1-1 draw in Machakos.

In Villa, they face a team that's yet to lose a game at the Mumboha Grounds, and they'll have to be at their absolute best to get a point, let alone a win, in Vihiga.

The first-leg meeting between the two teams in January ended in a 2-1 win for the Millers.

Coach Benedict Wanjala is not pressured ahead of the game, saying they are taking it one game at a time, intending to secure wins one game at a time.

"We are trying to take one match at a time. Now that we are finished with April matches, our focus shifts to Luanda and May games.

We respect Villa; they are a good team, but we are working hard to make sure we win against them to keep pace with the rest of the group," he states.

Despite topping the log, Wanjala refused to be drawn into title talks at this point in the campaign.

"We are in a pole position to clinch promotion to the top-flight league, but that is not our focus now. Let’s win our matches and see what happens at the end of the season," he added.

The two other games set to be played today will see Darajani Gogo host bottom-placed troubled Silibwet at KIHBT Grounds in Ngong, while Kajiado FC, who are battling the drop, will host Mombasa Elite.

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