Will Gor break the KCB vault?

League giants Gor Mahia FC host title rivals KCB in one of the biggest fixtures headlining the Football Kenya Federation (FKF)- Premier League Round seven fixtures this afternoon with the Championship resuming after the long Christmas break.

A total of nine matches across the country will be played with also eyes on league leaders and defending Champions Tusker FC who have won all five of their starting matches. K’Ogalo who is 19 times Champions has a date with destiny against the Bankers in what is expected to be an explosive a=ffair at Nyayo Stadium.

In recent times, the pair have met 21 times with Gor Mahia leading 12-5 with four games ending in draws. Currently, K’Ogalo has 10 points off four matches and is placed fourth in the log while their immediate followers in the table standings are KCB who have nine points but with two matches extra over their next opponents. Both clubs have looked blunt with only a combined 11 goals in 10 matches. However, matches involving the duo are always intense. In the last two meetings between the pair, Gor Mahia has picked up four points. K’Ogalo is yet to lose a game thus far with a goal difference of +3 following three wins and a draw with their 37-year-old Northern Irish Coach Jonathan McKinstry keen to look for a fourth win in a bid to close the gap at the top.

Meanwhile, the Brewers under the tutelage of Robert Matano are looking like the team to beat at the moment and they host bottom-placed Vihiga Bullets FC at Ruaraka. Tusker who lead the standings with 15 points and a healthy goal difference of +7 is set to unleash the trio of Deogratius Ojok, Ibrahim Joshua and Shami Kibwana on the Westerners who have four matches in hand. On paper, therefore, it does seem Tusker will have an edge given their recent domination over Vihiga.

In another duel, another enthralling encounter pitting Kariobangi Sharks FC and Kakamega Homeboyz FC will take place at Bukhungu Stadium. Third-placed Homeboyz who are on 11 points will be looking at home-ground advantage to help their cause even as eighth-placed Sharks under William Muluya planning a coup of their own at enemy territory. Homeboyz handled by former Kenyan international John Baraza will be buoyed by the fact that they have never lost at home to the Sharks and moreover have an incredible 7-0 success-winning record over the visitors.

“We are ready for a big battle. I know Sharks will come hard to play so we will have to be at our best. The break was good at least mentally for us but now it is back to business and certainly, we have tried to rectify some areas. Obviously, we will be looking for a win to help us catch up,” stated Baraza following an interview with People Sport.

Elsewhere, winless Nairobi City Stars FC host ninth-placed AFC Leopards at the Kasarani Main Stadium. Both sides have struggled for rhythm in recent times with Simba wa Nairobi languishing at 15th on the table with four losses and two draws while Ingwe under Belgian tactician Patrick Aussems has a single win in the last five matches which has irked the club faithful who have demanded better from the players. In the last five matches, AFC Leopards have lost twice, drawn twice and won only a single game which was their season opener against Ulinzi Stars. In the last two meet-ups between the pair, Leopards have picked four points.

Motsepe said that he was asked to drop CHAN by some leading Caf officials as it “loses money” – in a further admission of how the Lagardere deal has affected things, given that this tournament was scheduled to bring in $43m as per the now ripped-up contract.

The much-trumpeted African Super League has had little official update since Motsepe said in August that the 24 teams earmarked for the tournament would receive $2.5m to take part.

Three months on, that figure has reduced to $2m – intended for clubs to buy players and afford travel – and a source close to talks says the number of teams could well reduce to just eight.

This is despite Motsepe saying “too many teams” wanted entry, although finances may well be at play again given the repeated talk of interested sponsors – “lots of money is being bandied about” – has yet to be followed up by any concrete announcements.

After an initial announcement that the Super League – which Caf has said is being run in conjunction with Fifa – would be a closed league, Motsepe said there is now likely to be a system of promotion and relegation.

“For us, the African Super League is a very important intervention and we are confident over time it will significantly increase the salaries of players in Africa,” he said.