With 5 rounds left to play in this season’s Kenya cup, you could say that we are smack in the middle of the business end of the league. Going into the next six weekends, one thing is for sure, Kisumu will not be part of the top flight next season if the relegation rules are upheld.
Apart from that, everything else is any one’s guess really, the battles for the play off spots and remaining relegation slot are bound to go to the end of the proverbial wire.
The next five weeks will see at least two fixtures pitting sides in the top 6, starting with this weekend where 5th placed Nondies travel to leaders Nakuru. With sixth placed Mwamba hosting KCB who are in third.
Mombasa vs Machine – Mombasa Sports Club, 4.00pm
Mean Machine open the calendar year 2014 with a trip down to the coast to play 10th placed Mombasa. Machine currently sit in 12th having played a game less than the teams around them.
Mombasa seem to have done enough to remain afloat with 3 wins from five they will however hope for another win here and definitely seal that place in next year’s league. They come into this one off a 119-0 hiding at the hands of KCB and hope to get back to winning ways.
Machine are hanging precariously over the drop zone and with an easier run in over the next weeks they will hope to start racking in the points at the coast.
Kisumu vs W.Bulls – Kisumu Poly, 4.00pm
Finally a home fixture for Kisumu, seems like forever since they last played. As I mentioned earlier Kisumu are really out of this one, firmly anchored to the bottom of the standings on -6 points.
The Western bulls in 8th on 18 points will be upbeat for this one seeing as the hosts have been pretty generous. The last side that visited the Kisumu polytechnic grounds managed to score 48 points. The Echulusi will be looking to match that result and keep piling the points.
Blak Blad vs Impala – Kenyatta University, 4.00pm
9th placed Blak Blad will host 11th placed Impala at the Blad Bin, yes you read that right, Blad are ahead of Impala. The hosts are on 15 points with Impala on 9 points.
Blad come into this one off a heavy 47-3 defeat away to Western Bulls and will be fancying their chances of getting back to winning ways against the shaky Impala side.
Impala recorded only their second win in eight matches last weekend when they beat second from last Eldoret 86-0. The gazelles will have to be in the same form if they are to get past this stubborn Blad side.
Eldoret vs Homeboyz – Eldoret Sports Club, 4.00pm
13th placed Eldoret will host 7th placed Homeboyz at the Eldoret Sports Club. The hosts on 3 points have all to play for as they could still survive the axe, being 4 points behind 12th place.
These two sides come into this fixture off heavy defeats, with Eldoret soaking in 86 points against Impala at the same venue with Homeboyz shipping in 64 points against leaders Nakuru. Both will be looking to quickly forget those results with a win here.
The Homeboyz still harbour hopes of a spot in the play offs and will know anything less than a bonus win here will heavily dent their chances.
Nakuru vs Nondies – Nakuru Athletic Club, 4.00pm
League leaders Nakuru will be looking to keep their perfect run going when they host Fifth placed Nondies at the Suguta valley.
The leaders have so far enjoyed a perfect run of eight matches, scoring a maximum 40 points. Looking at those 8 matches, you could say that this was expected. The run in for them will be a lot tougher though as they play, the top 6 in the next fixtures.
Many expected Homeboyz to pose the first real test for the Wanyore, but they blew past them with the greatest of ease. This weekend is expected to be tougher for Nakuru, with Nondies offering more in terms of forwards.
Nondies will be looking to achieve what no side has for two seasons now, win at Nakuru or become the second side in the same period to leave the rift town with a point. The rangers come into this one off a narrow 20-17 loss to Strathmore, another defeat here would see them slide further from the play off spots.
Strathmore vs Quins – Strathmore Madaraka,4.00pm
Second placed Strathmore will be playing host to fourth placed Kenya Harlequins in what promises to be a cracker.
This will be the first time that Quins are visiting the cage and the Leos will be hoping to give them a memorable welcome, not only to the cage but to the calendar year 2014. Quins have so far carefully navigated through their fixtures, managing to make the most out of every match.
With eight bonus points from sev-en matches the quartered shirts will be looking to keep their steady run going and keep within the play off places. Most had forgotten about the Quin having been two games behind their competition through the first phase of the league.
This fixture has always offered a handful in the recent past with Strathmore winning the last encounter 31-20. The Leos will be out for a repeat as they look to cement second place and the home semi final it comes with.
Mwamba vs KCB – UoN Grounds, 4.00pm
Third placed KCB will make the short trip down the super highway to the UoN grounds to meet Mwamba who are in sixth.
The Lions will be upbeat for this one after recording the biggest winning margin of the season when the beat Mombasa 119-0. Mwamba will be playing their first fixture of the calendar year after postponing their year opener against Quins.
These sides usually never disappoint when they meet and this time looks no different. The last time these two met in the league, KCB were 17-10 winners at the Den. This one looks to be another close one with both sides angling for a spot in the play offs.
KCB will probably hold the upper hand in the forwards with Mwamba edging the tie at the backs, it is definitely bound to be a great encounter.
Onto the predictions :
Machine +15 over Mombasa
Western Bulls +50 over Kisumu
Impala +20 over BlakBlad
Homeboyz+30 over Eldoret
Nakuru +20 over Nondies
Strathmore +5 over Quins
KCB+10 over Mwamba
As always feel free to share your predictions in the comments section below.
KWISHA…..Nimeruka Nje!!
