“Even though Gor Mahia have started the season badly, they are still a difficult team to get the better of and we must be at our utmost best if we are to do that,” Otieno was quoted by the club’s
Facebook page as saying.
“Even more now that they have a new coach. We must work as a team from the first whistle until the last. We didn’t start the season on the right footing last weekend against Sofapaka so we have to make amends and avoid at all costs another disappointing result.”
Otieno scored his first goal for Mathare United against Gor Mahia in November 2019 and was also on target against Batoto ba Mungu during the Wundanyi loss. Van Persie, as he is known, has seven goals for the 2008 Premier League champions and the 2020/21 season is his second with the Eastlands club.
Four days after the clash against the Batoto ba Mungu, Mathare United will play Zoo FC before hosting Bandari on January 22nd. The Slum Boys will then travel to Nakuru and face Ulinzi Stars on January 27th before concluding the month’s duties with a game against Tusker on January 31st.
On the other hand, Zoo will open the season with a match against Bandari FC at Afraha Stadium on January 9. They will then face Posta Rangers at the same venue on January 13 as FKF has not given a reason why the matches will not be hosted at the Kericho Green Stadium.
As Odhiambo, who has already begun training sessions with
Batoto ba Mungu, readies to take charge of his first game, he will be forced to do so without Isaac Mitima, who is suffering from a knee injury, Stephen Okola, who will is ruled out by an ankle problem, and midfielder David Simiyu, who is yet to recover from a foot injury.
“Rwandan centre-back Isaac Mitima will yet again miss Tusker clash. The defender, however, has resumed light training and should be fully fit in a week’s time,” Sofapaka added.
“Defender Okola will miss the third match of the season due to an ankle injury. We will miss the services of Simiyu who sustained a foot injury in training.”
Ulinzi Stars’ first clear chance came in the 32nd minute, but Masita Masuta sent his effort wide to deny the composed Soldiers an opener.
Stars’ head coach Benjamin Nyangweso made a first change in the 55th minute when he withdrew Elvis Nandwa for Oscar Wamalwa. Five minutes later, the Nakuru outfit failed to break the deadlock again as Brian Birgen’s ferocious strike was stopped by Brian Bwire in the Sharks’ goal.
There were two late changes by Nyangweso; as Ibrahim Shambi replaced Daniel Waweru while Masita s place was filled by Clinton Omondi. However, they did not bring about much impact, as the two sides shared the spoils from the stalemate.
Mathare United to open season against Gor Mahia, Zoo handed Bandari Goal 01/01/2021 Kiplagat Sang
The Football Kenya Federation have released the new Premier League fixtures after Mathare United and Zoo FC were reinstated by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT).
The two top tier sides had been expelled after they objected to the StarTimes broadcasting deal, but after Zoo moved to SDT, the FKF expulsion notice was stayed by the tribunal’s chair John Ohaga and the federation ordered to allow the clubs to participate in the league.
Mathare United will consequently begin their campaign against Gor Mahia on January 14. As Mathare will be starting their season, the rest of the teams would have played six games already and the Slum Boys will have to try and catch up, as most of their fixtures have been congested into a two-week period.