Pre Match: KCB (A)

League leaders AFC Leopards play against Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) at the Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday 28th March, 2012.

Sammy Kitula of the Daily Nation writes:-

Ravenous AFC Leopards switch their attention to KCB on Tuesday in an enticing midweek encounter at Nyayo stadium. 

The unbeaten league leaders have now won five of their last seven matches but face a dangerously unpredicatable bankers side.

Buoyed by a 2-1 away win against Western Stima over the weekend, Ingwe, who are yet to lose a match in 20 league outings, will want to build on their impressive run. They have scored 10 goals while conceding only two this season.

Already, Leopards’ goalkeeper, Patrick Matasi has rejected fears that they might buckle under the Sofapaka pressure and has urged his team-mates simply to enjoy their League matches. 

“I don’t think it’s about holding your nerve, but about going out and enjoying yourself,” the custodian said. “This is because those are the types of players we have.”

Second-placed Sofapaka have collected 17 points, same as Leopards, but with an inferior goal diffference. 

A draw is tolerable for the big cats, but it’s definitely not a desirably result. Used to winning now, Leopards’ fans have witnessed a spectacular turn of fortunes since head coach Jan Koops joined the side last year. 

And with Sofapaka breathing down their necks, maximum points is what Leopards will need to go for, given that they face the unpredictable Rangers FC in their next fixture on Saturday.

After scoring a brace over the weekend against Stima, centre half Jonas Nahimana will continue to be an important part of the Leopards’ hunting expedition. 

The Burundian turned Rwandese’s playmaking talents, including his passing and dribbling, will give him an opportunity to create many quality scoring chances against a Ruaraka outfit defense that is not one of the meanest in Kenyan football. They have conceded five times in six league matches.

With the expected return of Salim Kinje to Koops’ squad after pulling a calf muscle in that Stima win, the tactician has even more offensive firepower at his disposal.

With poven goal getters, Allan Wanga, Victor Ochieng and Jimmy Bageya available to the Dutch, key strategy in this game for KCB will be limiting the scoring chances the free-scoring Ingwe forwards can create.

If the bankers don’t defend well to begin the match, the men in blue-stripped jerseys could score some quick goals that would effectively end the match. On their part, the bankers will not sit and be clawed, but will need to call on their lead striker Jacob Keli to do the damage.

“We will give our best. We have a strong mentality and if we do what we are expected to, then winning the three points won’t be a difficult task,” Keli said.  

The league’s sharp shooter added that the match gave him an opportunity of catching up with the current top scorers, John Baraza and Kepha Awsani. Baraza scored twice against Ulinzi Stars for his sixth, while Aswani netted four times as Thika United humiliated Rangers 6-0.

Nancy Rose Ochieng of Futaa gives the following ticketing information:-

The Kenya Premier League side AFC Leopards is set to face KCB in a KPL match on Wednesday 28 March 2012 at the Nyayo National stadium.

Ahead of the match, tickets will be on sale by Ticket Masters at three outlets, City Stadium, Nyayo Stadium and Kenya Cinema as from 0900Hrs.

Only 6,000 tickets are printed for the Wednesday’s match, if need be, the remnant of 2012 encounter between the two KPL sides will be used to cater for the match.

The tickets will be selling at Ksh.200 and 400 for Terraces and VIP seats respectively. The sale will stop by 1600Hrs at the Nyayo Stadium as per FKF regulations.