Best KPL Week 26 bets & predictions – Sofapaka vs. Mathare United
- By: Brian Humphrey
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Sofapaka will be hopeful of a positive result, one that will help retain their bid for the Kenyan Premier League crown, when they play host to Mathare United this weekend.
The battle of the former KPL champions will take place on Sunday afternoon against the backdrop of the hilly terrain in Masaku.
Batoto Ba Mungu maintained their hot pursuit on leaders Gor Mahia when they grinded out a marginal 1-0 win over Sony Sugar at the Green Stadium last Sunday. The only goal of the match was scored by Umaru Kasumba to ensure that John Baraza’s charges kept their title chase alive. The slim yet highly apt win, which was Sofapaka’s third triumph in their last six games, left the 2009 KPL champions second on the log; a point behind leaders Gor Mahia.
Although Sofapaka are just a mere point adrift of Gor in the race for the title, Mayienga still have the upper hand given how they have three league matches in hand; matches initially postponed due to their representation of the domestic league on the continental front.
Despite this, Sofapaka’s head coach John Baraza maintains that his charges can still wrestle K’Ogalo for the crown, given how the 17-time Kenyan Premier League champions will assuredly drop points going by how much ground the champions have to make in order to draw level in the number of matches played thus far in the league campaign.
Baraza’s assumptions could very well be emanating from harsh lessons from his own mistakes, as his reign at the helm of the table during Gor Mahia’s absence was cut short, partly due to laxity and the number of matches that were coming thick and fast.
Mathare United forced a draw with Vihiga United in a four-goal thriller last Sunday afternoon in the SpotPesa Premier League. The decidedly incandescent encounter, which ended in a 2-2 draw, took place at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County.
The hosts began the encounter in terrific form, as they took the lead in the eighth minute through Lawrence Luganda’s delightfully struck free kick from the edge of the area.
Frustrated at the break, Mathare’s woes were further compounded in the second half when Dennis Wafula doubled the lead for Vihiga in the 67th minute.
Exchanging a quick give-and-go with Amos Kigadi, Wafula dribbled his way past Johnstone Omurwa, who didn’t have the legs, before sidestepping goalkeeper Allan Owiny and tapping the leather into the back of an empty net.
Despite seemingly appearing to be in cruised control of the contest, Vihiga United somewhat lost the plot, as they allowed Francis Kimanzi’s charges to claw their way back into the match.
It nonetheless took the Slum Boys 81 minutes to grab hold of the fiery encounter; with seasoned goal scorer Cliff Nyakeya stabbing the top right corner to halve the deficit.
Mathare then salvaged a point from the match when Omurwa found the bottom right corner deep into stoppage time. The result may in many ways not help Mathare in regards to ending their nine-year chase for the title, seeing how far they have fallen over the course of the season, but the outcome will nevertheless make the Slums Boys relish Sunday’s trip to Sofapaka.
Sofapaka vs Mathare United match result betting predictions
Sofapaka have been on an impressive run of eleven unbeaten matches in the Kenyan Premier League; with their last defeat stretching back to late February—a 1-0 loss at the hands of holders Gor Mahia. Were it not for their inordinate number of draws in recent weeks, Batoto Ba Mungu would have posed a more solid title challenge for Gor Mahia’s crown.
Quite reminiscent of their unfortunate fate in recent seasons, Mathare United’s imperious start to the campaign, one that saw them glued at the top of the table for the first two months, was hampered by a string of poor results that saw the Slum Boys slip all the way to fifth on the log.
Despite being nine points and three places apart on the table, the reencounter between these two former champions should present an epic Goals Galore; much like it has in four of their last five meetings.
Predictions:
Sofapaka vs. Mathare United recent results
Mathare United 1-4 Sofapaka (February 12, 2019)
Ellie Asieche 2’
Titus Achesa 32’
Umar Kasumba 43’
Umar Kasumba 90’
Kevin Kimani 72’
Sofapaka 3-2 Mathare United (July 8, 2018)
Kepha Aswani 9’
Ellie Asieche 38’ (P)
Pistone Vunyoli Mutamba 48’
Francis Omondi 20’ (P)
Alphonse Ndonye 65’
Mathare United 3-1 Sofapaka (February 25, 2018)
Francis Omondi 19’
Chrispin Oduor 27’
Edward Seda 64’
Mathias Kigonya 43’
Sofapaka 0-0 Mathare United (November 1, 2017)
Mathare United 1-2 Sofapaka (April 2, 2017)
George Maelo 25’
Humphrey Okoti 55’
Harrison Mwendwa 90’
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