Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Carol Radull
11 June 2011
Sofapaka Vs Club Africain (Tunisia) Sunday 3pm
Nyayo National Stadium
My Prediction: Sofapaka 3 – 1 Club Africain
Coach Francis Kimanzi is quite confident that the Batoto ba Mungu can overturn a 3 – 0 deficit to advance to the quarter finals of the Confederations Cup. Sofapaka suffered the massive away loss two weeks ago after a period of very crowded fixtures for them. Several Sofapaka players then joined up with the national team in Angola, played in last weekend’s African Cup of Nations Qualifier, before re-focusing back to the Confederations Cup. Without mentioning names, one Sofapaka player told me he was physically and mentally exhausted. Generally I don’t think the club planned very well to be in three competitions, knowing too that their players are favourites for national team duty. Or maybe they just didn’t expect to get this far in the Confed Cup. This isn’t something I would hold against the management of the club though because Sofapaka have up until now surprised and impressed many with their continental achievements. It won’t be easy but imagine they could do with all the support they can get at the Nyayo Stadium tomorrow. They did score four big ones past Ismailia last month so anything is possible.
Ulinzi Stars Vs Tusker FC Today 3pm
Afraha Stadium, Nakuru
My Prediction: Ulinzi 2 – 2 Tusker
The champions versus the team that has led the standings for much of this season. This is going to be a great game. Ulinzi came from a goal down to draw 1 – 1 with KCB in the last match before the international break, but their recent form has generally been great. They recovered quickly from an embarassing start to the season and a 4 – 0 walloping from Egyptian giants Zamalek appeared to crush the spirits of the champions. But being soldiers, their resilience is strong and they pulled through to recover quickly. Ulinzi are currently fourth in the standings, just five points behind leaders Rangers. Tusker meanwhile will go top if they get victory here today. They have held onto that top spot since the word “go” and only lost it to Rangers because they weren’t in action the weekend before the international break. So two points behind Rangers with a game in hand aint bad for them. Tusker recently bought the impressive Ibrahim Kitawi from Gor Mahia. I doubt he’ll be starting today as he has only been with the club for a couple of days, but I think it’s a very good move on Sammy Omolo’s side. Can he overcome Benjamin Nyangweso’s forces today though? This is a tough one.
Bandari Vs Rangers FC Today 3pm
Mombasa
My Prediction: Bandari 0 – 3 Rangers
Gosh Bandari are still in the league? You mean it isn’t possible for a team to say they’ve had enough and quit the league half way? If it were possible, Bandari, Congo and Nairobi City Stars should have applied for mercy. Okay let me stop being mean. I apologise. Tch tch… Bandari are still second from bottom with little to look forward to. They haven’t begun any heavy buying since the transfer window opened so even their future looks bleak. Rangers meanwhile have managed to remain intact despite the rumours and transfer window opening. Midfielder Charles Okwemba has confirmed to me that he has not signed for AFC Leopards as reports have indicated. He says he is firmly a Rangers player and has no intention of leaving. That’s good to hear and I hope the rest of the Rangers squad can stay put for just a little while longer; just to see how far the club can go this season. If they can just stay together and finish the league in the top three or better still win it, they will have sponsors forming a long line to be associated with them next season. And then they can name their price. It’s tough on the boys because they have bills to pay, but if only… I see David Ouma and his boys walking away with an easy three points in Mombasa.
Karuturi Sport Vs Sony Sugar Sunday 3pm
Karuturi Grounds, Naivasha
My Prediction: Katururi 1 – 1 Sony
Karuturi have been having a bad season. They are way down in 12th in the standings but just before the break they managed a surprise win over KCB and drew with Western Stima. Some pundits say those two results more or less saved the day for James Nandwa, who could have seen himself out the door at the flower firm. Sony had just beaten AFC Leopards 2 – 1 before the break so that was great. But the usually impressive side hasn’t impressed much this season. 11th in the standings isn’t the norm for a team that won the league in 2006 was it? I will actually be at this game in Naivasha just hoping that it will be an interesting match with goals. The Karuturi Stima match that ended nil nil has been described by a sports fan as the most boring match so far this season.
AllAfrica – All the Time
More here:
Tough As It Seems, Sofapaka Can Still Turn Beat Tunisians