Mara Sugar look to close gap on Mathare as Kisumu All Stars seek return to winning ways

©Mara Sugar

NSL Preview: Mara Sugar look to close gap on Mathare as Kisumu All Stars seek return to winning ways

Festus Chuma 08:00 - 02.12.2023

Mara Sugar aims to close the gap at the top, while Kisumu All Stars seeks consistency in the NSL's thrilling clashes.

The 2023/2024 FKF National Super Soccer League (NSL) season continues to deliver excitement as seven compelling encounters are set to unfold this Saturday afternoon.

In the first of these highly anticipated matches, Mara Sugar FC is set to travel to Nairobi to face off against Rainbow FC at the picturesque Ildamat Stadium in Kajiado.

The Sugar Millers find themselves in a prime position to close the gap with league leaders Mathare United, who recently opened up a six-point lead by defeating Vihiga Bullets 3-2 on Friday.

Currently occupying the second spot, Mara Sugar has played 11 matches and still holds a game in hand, boasting 23 points.

Under the guidance of their new coach, Godfrey Naibei, following the resignation of their previous coach, Mara Sugar is focused on taking each match as it comes.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, coach Naibei stated that they would be going to hunt the Lions and get an animal out of the hunt.

"We respect Rainbow, they are a good team, but we are working hard to make sure we win against Rainbow," he said.

Striker Philemon Nyakwakwa, leading the league's scoring charts, will be eager to add more goals against a Rainbow side positioned 14th on the table with just 10 points from 11 matches.

Rainbow FC, led by coach Erick Macharia, aims to find consistency in their performances.

Despite a promising maiden season in the NSL, they have only managed to secure two wins against Darajani Gogo and Vihiga Bullets.

However, they possess a potent attacking force with Mustapha Dulmant, John Nyawir, and Paul Jawa, making them a formidable opponent.

Moving forward, the encounter between Mara Sugar and Rainbow FC presents an intriguing battle with the Trans-Mara-based outfit likely considering themselves favorites against the NSL newcomers in their first-ever meeting.

Elsewhere, Kisumu All Stars, currently fourth on the league table with 18 points, are set to host Kajiado at Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Recent performances from Kisumu All Stars have been inconsistent, with two losses, one draw, and two wins in their previous five matches.

Otenga will be looking to bounce back after a 3-2 away defeat to Mombasa Stars last Saturday.

Kajiado FC, on the other hand, is eager to return to the winner's circle after enduring a winless streak of three matches.

Their last outing resulted in a 2-0 loss to third-placed Naivas at home. Coach Hamisi "Kaka" Mohamed will be working diligently to guide his team back on track.

Kajiado currently occupies the 11th spot on the league table with 14 points, and a victory away from home could potentially propel them into seventh place, depending on other match results.

At Mumboha Grounds, Luanda Villa will play host to Mombasa Heroes, both teams yearning for a return to winning ways.

Luanda Villa aims to avoid a third consecutive draw after a 1-1 stalemate against MCK in their previous fixture.

Meanwhile, Mombasa Heroes seeks to halt a troubling four-match losing streak, with their most recent defeat being a 1-2 setback against Nairobi United.

At Bomet IAAF Stadium, Silibwet Leons welcomes Migori Youth as they strive for their third win of the season.

Leons currently languish in 17th place with just nine points, while Migori Youth occupies the fifth spot with 18 points and a match in hand.

Migori Youth heads into the match after losing a petition to the Sports Dispute Tribunal, which sought to challenge the decision by FKF Leagues and Competition Committee to ban the club from hosting matches at Migori Stadium.

Finally, at Wolves Den, Dimba Patriots eagerly await the arrival of SS Assad in what promises to be another captivating matchup.

Patriots find themselves in a challenging position, positioned 18th on the league log.

Meanwhile, Assad stands at the 10th spot, with a mere six-point difference separating the two sides.

A victory for the Patriots could see them catapult four places up the standings, while a win for Assad would propel them into sixth place.

NSL Saturday fixtures

Dimba Patriots v SS Assad (Wolves Den,3PM)

Kisumu All Stars v Kajiado (Moi Stadium Kisumu,3PM)

Luanda Villa v Mombasa All Stars (Mumboha Grounds,1PM)

Rainbow v Mara Sugar ( Ildamat Stadium Kajiado,3PM)

Silibwet v Migori ( Bomet IAAF Stadium,3PM) 

  Naivas v Mulembe ( Kenyatta Stadium Machakos,1PM) 

 Gusii v MCF (Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho (1PM)

Follow our Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more updates.