KAKAMEGA Homeboyz have cautioned
AFC Leopards not to expect victory or a
draw on a silver platter in their
tomorrow’s Premier League match at
Mumias Sports Complex.
Club chairman, Cleophas Shimanyula, said
the future of the club lies on the outcome
of the match which they need to win to
escape the big axe. Homeboyz are placed
15th on the table with 29 points. They
need to win the match and pray that Sony
Sugar who host Bandari in Awendo
tomorrow drops at least a point or City
Stars drops three points away at Chemelil.
Expressing optimism of beating ‘Ingwe’ in
Mumias, Shimanyula admitted they are
the underdogs but noted that tomorrow’s
match is a do-or-die for them.
“Our opponents have the experience,
money and everything but they have no
luck of beating us in tomorrow’s match.
We have psyched our boys to summon all
their energy for this match. All I can ask
Leopards is to play with respect and bear
in mind that they are meeting their
brothers whose survive in the league
depends on the match,” Shimanyula said.
He said Homeboyz who made their debut
in the Premier League this year’s, started
off the season on a poor note but
recovered late.
“ Like any other team, we want to remain
in the Premiership and that is why we are
promising to play a game of our life,” he
added.
“To confirm we are the team to watch, we
won two consecutive matches at home—
beating Chemelil and Thika United—by an
identical 2-0 margin. We are optimistic
that the trend will continue against
Ingwe.”
He urged the club supporters to turn up
in large numbers and cheer the team to
survival in the match which starts at
3:00pm.
He said Dennis Mukaisi and Andrew
Kulecho, who have scored four goals
apiece, will spearhead their campaign as
they strive to remain in top flight football
next season.
Shimanyula said the team is a community
club with no sponsorship but the players
have remained united despite the
problems.
Leopards will also be hoping to win the
match to finish in second position ahead
of Sofapaka. They are currently tied with
Sofapaka in second place on 47 points but
Leopards have a superior goal aggregate.
Batoto ba Mungu play Mathare in their
final match.
Elsewhere, Nairobi City Stars coach Jan
Koops has given the clearest indicator
that he is set to join former Kenyan
Premier League champions Tusker after
confirming that tomorrow’s match against
Chemelil Sugar will be his last at the club.
Koops has been linked with a move to
Ruaraka with sources at the club,
revealing that he is set to be unveiled
next week— to take over from besieged
Robert Matano.
On Thursday, Koops confirmed that his
short contract with City Stars expires
after tomorrow’s fixture but remained
non-committal about his future.
“My agreement with City Stars was for
two months and this comes to an end
after Saturday’s match in Chemelil. I have
already told the management and will tell
the players before we play on Saturday.
“At the moment, my focus is to help City
Stars survive and then we can think about
the future. Let us talk about this next
week,” he said when pressed further. City
Stars chairman Peter Jabuya said it is
unfortunate to let Koops go and
confirmed that indeed they had a short
term contract with the coach.
“Our agreement was for seven matches
after which we would sit down ad agree
on a longer term engagement if he is still
interested. At the moment, our focus is
on how we can survive relegation and the
issue of the coach can come later.”