VENUE: NYAYO NATIONAL STADIUM

TIME: 19:00HOURS

Nyayo stadium will on Wednesday night host yet another one of modern day Kenyan football classic when 2008 champions Mathare united take on 2009 champions Sofapaka. At stake will be 3 crucial points and considering the competitive nature the league has acquired it goes without saying what a cracker the game will be.

The first leg match between the two teams ended in a goalless draw with mathare crying foul for a denied penalty after Joseph Nyagah was brought down in the box. The then mathare coach Francis kimanzi landed a six months ban when he held the lines-man by his shirt in protest of the denied penalty. Mathare united are yet to beat Sofapaka in the Kenya premier  league and will try to avenge last season’s home and away defeat by slowing down Sofapaka’s climb to the top

SOFAPAKA
A draw between the two teams will see sofapaka who currently are on 36 points with a goal difference of 17 move upto second position for the first time this season albeit having played one more game than title rivals Gor mahia and Tusker while a win for the defending champions will take them top of the league for the first time since the beginning of the season.

The defending champions have proved to be in good shape to defend their title having collected 14 points out of their last 6 outings with four wins and two draws. Sofapaka has scored the highest number of goals in the league with their talisman John Baraza netting 11 times this season. Their superior goal difference might come in handy in the event of a tie at the top.

In recent opposition against the top five teams, sofapaka has played to a 1-1 draw with tusker and a goal less draw with Ulinzi.

MATHARE UNITED
One point result will be an undesired for the slum boys who might consider themselves unlucky this season owing to the numerous number of draws (14) they have had. A win though will keep their title hopes alive moving them up to 35 points just a point behind fourth placed and their opponent of the day SOFAPAKA and four points behind leaders Ulinzi stars.

Despite the recent pace and competition that has been injected into the league by Gor-mahia, with nine games still to be played the 2008 champions  still have both mathematical and reasonable chances of winning the league. Mathare united is probably the team with the best fighting spirit in the entire league. In the entire 90 minutes they just keep playing with the pace and urgency with which they began the match. A win against the defending champions will therefore not be a surprise.

Out of their last six outings, Mathare has won one, lost one and drawn four times. In recent opposition with the top five teams, Mathare has played to a goalless draw against Gor-mahia.

PLAYERS
John Baraza is as usual expected to start upfront for Sofapaka alongside Allan wanga and Bob Mugalia. At the centre will be Humphrey mieno, Monday Orsbone and Anthony kimani while the backline will be familiar with Idrissa Rajab, George owino, Edgar Ochieng and Captain James Situma all on duty.  In the goal will be Kenya’s Wilson Oburu.

The key man for Mathare united will be goal keeper Martin Musalia who has been in top form in the last few Matches and will seek to carry his performance forth against Sofapaka’s striking trio. Mathare’s backline is expected to feature familiar faces of Heavener Maloba, Kennedy Ayong’ Omogi , Lloyd Wahome and captain Anthony Kimani. Austin Makacha and Kevin Kimani will be the key men in the midfield assisted by Andrew Tololwa and Dennis Nzomo while Joseph Nyagah and Kelvin Opiyo will be responsible for getting the goals