We round up the month of January with Match day 10, the highlight of the weekend set to take place at the Railway club, when 5th Placed Mwamba host 4th placed Kabras.
I had mentioned earlier to a few friends, that I believe the race for the top four will be done and dusted at the end of January. So keeping with my narrative, whoever does win this encounter should have at the very least, the upper hand in the race for the top four.
Other fixtures will see third placed Strathmore play the Monks at the Jamuhuri grounds, where seventh placed Impala will also face Machine at an earlier time. Nondies will play Mombasa at the RFUEA with Quins hosting KCB at the same venue.
Mwamba vs Kabras, 4:00 pm – Railway Club
Kulabu have been through a torrid three weeks, failing to pick up a win in that period, their last victory a narrow 22-19 result over Quins on match day 6. The sugar millers have had an almost opposite run in the same period, with two wins from the last three rounds.
The two are separated by six points with Kabras on 31 and Mwamba on 25 points. While from the points difference one might think Kabras can afford to lose this match, throw in Homeboyz who are on 23 points and it gets a bit sticky.
The black shirts will be without Collins Injera, Lavin Asego and Dan Sikuta who will sit this one out owing to national duty. They will also be without Mike Agevi who picked up an injury against KCB. Kulabu will need to get back to winning ways to keep their play off hopes alive.
Kabras will have their full squad to pick from with the likes of Robert Kweya, Duncan Mwangi, Polycap Luaki, Geoffrey Messo, Perminus Macharia, Steven Owuor and Nick Barasa all set to start. The season’s surprise package will be looking to get back to winning ways after that last minute home defeat to Nondies.
The sugar millers will have all but wrapped up fourth spot with a win here but should be wary of a Kulabu side that will be itching for a win and challenge for that fourth spot in the closing stages of the league phase.
KCB vs Quins, 4:00 pm – RFUEA.
Second placed KCB will make the short trip to the RFUEA to play 8th placed Quins, who still have an outside chance of claiming a play off spot.
The hosts are on one win from their last 3 outings, ruthlessly running over the Monks 94-13 on match day 8. But losing 36-22 to Homeboyz on the previous match day, with Strathmore claiming a 32-15 win against them last weekend.
The quartered shirts will be without captain Patrice Agunda and Felix Ayange who will be away on national duty, they have however welcomed the experienced trio of Tony Mutai, Wilson Kopondo and Sidney Ashioya over the last two weeks. Brian Okwomi, Lyle Asiligwa, Kevin Keegan and William Mawira will be vital for their charge here.
On their part, the Lions will be without captain Andrew Amonde for the same reason that Quins will be losing Patrice and Felix. They are unbeaten this season and will be looking to keep that impressive run going in the absence of their captain.
The Lion has claimed three wins in the last three encounters against the Quin, a 36-6 win in last season’s Enterprise cup, preceded by a 24-8 and 30-28 win in the Kenya cup, a semi final and league match respectively. Before that the Lions had not beaten Quins in close to five years.
The green shirts will be looking to make it four in a row and keep that unbeaten run going, with the quartered shirts looking to turn back the clock and get one over a side they once dominated. This one is set to be a great encounter.
Elsewhere, league leaders will make the trip to the capital to face Homeboyz at the Railway club, the Wanyore who are yet to taste defeat with the Djs in 6th spot on 23 points as earlier indicated. The last time these two met the defending champions were 64-0 winners at the Cage in Madaraka.
9th placed Western Bulls will host Blakblad who are in 11th spot, the last time these two met at the same venue, the Echulusi were 47-3 winners last season.
Collated Match Day 10 Fixtures :
Strathmore vs Catholic, 4:00 pm – Jamhuri Park.
Impala vs Machine, 2:00 pm – Jamhuri Park.
Quins vs KCB, 4:00 pm – RFUEA.
Nondies vs Mombasa, 2:00 pm – RFUEA.
Homeboyz vs Nakuru, 2:00 pm – Railway Club.
Mwamba vs Kabras, 4:00 pm – Railway Club.
W.Bulls vs Blakblad, 4:00 pm – Kakamega High School.
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
