Kenya: Gor And Mathare Top Eight Match Moved to April 13

Charles Nyende

29 March 2011

Nairobi — As expected, Football Kenya Limited on Tuesday announced the postponement of the KPL Top Eight Knockout fixture between Mathare United and Gor Mahia from Wednesday to April 13.

In a brief statement, Kenya Premier League said the change was made because of the unscheduled friendly international match between Kenya and Nigeria that was played on Tuesday in Abuja.

This is the second Top Eight fixture to be postponed. The Sofapaka versus Sony Sugar clash that was originally scheduled for March 16 could also not take place because the 2009 league champions were involved in continental football competition.

The Top Eight is thus set for a double header at Nyayo National Stadium on April 13 when Kenya champions Ulinzi Stars take on Sher Karuturi from 5pm before Gor entertain Mathare from 7.30pm.

Only one Top Eight quarter-final match has taken place so far – Western Stima’s upset 1-0 victory over highly rated Tusker on March 8.

The KPL Top Eight Knockout tournament was introduced this year by the league body to encourage excellence from the teams while helping to raise the profile of top club football in the country.

All the matches are held on weekdays and televised live by South Africa-based satellite pay television station SuperSport.

Winners will pocket Sh1 million.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s representatives to the Confederation Cup, Sofapaka, begin residential training on Thursday for their first round, second leg clash against Ismaili of Egypt at Nyayo on Saturday.

Club official Benson Matindi said they were finalising arrangements for the match and plan to begin advance ticket sales on Thursday.

Opiyo back from injury

Sofapaka face the Herculean task of overturning a 2-0 loss suffered in the first leg in Egypt on March 18.

The 2009 Kenyan champions will be buoyed by the recovery from injury of goalkeeper George Opiyo, who injured his face after colliding with an Ismaili player during the first leg match in Cairo.

Internationals Edgar Ochieng, James Situma and Bob Mugalia are expected to link up with the rest of the team by tomorrow after their sojourn in Abuja with Harambee Stars.

Sofapaka will be attempting to do what no Kenyan club has done: eliminate, on the pitch, an Egyptian club from continental competition.

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