Preview: Shabana face Assad as Mara Sugar take aim at Coastal Heroes

© Shabana FC

NSL Preview: Shabana face Assad as Mara Sugar take aim at Coastal Heroes

Festus Chuma 10:00 - 14.04.2023

The Glamour Boys look to defeat the Simbas away, while the Sugar Millers welcome middle-table placed Heroes.

The National Super League (NSL) week 20 matches will start on Friday with four exciting clashes.

The games are expected to have an impact on the league table and up first is Coastal Heroes who travel to take on high-flying Mara Sugar in Awendo.

Heroes are currently 11th on the NSL table, but with just four points separating the two teams and the fact that both sides hold top-five aspirations, there is certainly a lot at stake.

Meanwhile, Mara Sugar looks to be finding some good form, and after being held to a goalless draw by Naivas, Francis Xavier's men look to be undergoing a resurgence.

Mara are currently on a run of four games without defeat which should hold them in good stead, and considering that they have lost just one of their last five games at home, they will be confident.

Xavier will likely rely on his top scorer in the league, Philemon Nyakwaka. The striker has scored six goals this season and will likely continue his partnership with Edwin Ouko.

However, going into the game, all eyes will likely be on Coastal Heros' leading marksman, Ramadan Mwanzia. After scoring nine goals this season, the youngster has become one of the league's most dangerous players.

This will be only the fourth meeting between the two sides, but Mara does boast a healthy record over Heroes.

The western-Kenya-based outfit have won two, while Coastal Heroes secured victory just once.

Elsewhere in the country, table leaders Shabana are set for a tricky encounter coming up against SS Assad.

Under coach Sammy Okoth have been one of the most impressive campaigners this season, coming up against a side that registered just four wins in the ongoing season.

Beja Nwamawi will be the player to watch, having netted nine goals this season and contributed five assists for Assad.

He is likely to test a defense that has conceded just five times in the 18 matches they have played so far this season.

On the other day's match, Kisumu All Stars welcome Darajani Gogo ar Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Looking at the log table, All Stars sit ninth on the log table with 23 points and will hope to return to winning ways after being held to a goalless draw by Migori in their last match.

Shifting the focus to the visitors, the Hawks will hope to avoid a second loss in a row after falling 1-0 to Muranga Seal in their last match.

Caleb Aringa's coached side sits fifth on the league standings with 28 points from 17 matches played so far this season.

The last fixture of the day is between Kibera Black Stars and Mombasa Elite FC at Mbaraki Sports Grounds in Mombasa.

Black Stars are the second-best defensive team, having conceded just eight goals after league leaders Shabana and Mombasa Elite are in the opposite direction, conceding 19 goals in the league.

Evans Omondi's coached side has 30 points which leaves them in third, and Mombasa Elite are trying to stay far away from the relegation zone but still 10th on 23 points in the league table.