Mathare United will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways when they host APS Bomet in a crucial SportPesa League encounter at Kasarani Annex on Sunday afternoon.
With only four matches left before the curtain falls on the season, the fixture carries huge significance for both sides as they continue to fight for survival and avoid being dragged deeper into the relegation dogfight.
The clash kicks off at 1PM with both teams knowing that maximum points could prove decisive in shaping their fate for next season.
Mathare United currently sit 12th on the league table with 35 points, just one point above APS Bomet who occupy 13th place. The narrow gap between the two sides underlines how important the match is, especially at this stage of the campaign where every point matters.
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Mathare United seek redemption against in-form APS Bomet
The Slum Boys head into the match still hurting from their dramatic 2-2 draw against Sofapaka FC in their previous outing. Mathare looked set to collect all three points before conceding a late equaliser in added time, a scenario that has become a recurring problem for the former league champions this season.
APS Bomet, on the other hand, arrive in Nairobi with confidence flowing through the camp after securing a vital 1-0 victory over KCB FC.
That result lifted the Bomet-based side out of the relegation zone and into 13th place, continuing a strong run of form that has seen them become one of the most improved sides in recent weeks.
Looking at recent performances, Mathare United have struggled for consistency, managing only one win in their last six league matches while recording three draws and two defeats.
APS Bomet have enjoyed a far better run, winning four of their last six matches with the remaining two ending in draws.
The reverse fixture between the two sides earlier in the season ended in a 1-1 draw, and Mathare United captain Eli Asieche expects another difficult contest against an opponent currently enjoying momentum.
“I expect a tricky match as we don’t know how they will be approaching us because they’ve had a good run so we aren’t sure if they’ll be going all on attack or holding on for counters to punish us so it’s something tricky but for us we are aiming for 3 points so that we don’t get much pressure like last season,” said Asieche.
The experienced midfielder also admitted that his side must improve mentally, especially after repeatedly dropping points in the closing stages of matches. In the first leg against APS Bomet, Mathare conceded a late equaliser after Asieche had given them the lead. The same script unfolded against Sofapaka last weekend.
“What I feel about this, I think it’s something about the mind, whereby the assumption of we’ve already won when in front has been something that’s costing us but we’ve had talks because it is something that’s been recurring so much this season.
I hope after the talks we will be more focused because losing points in the final moments has cost us so much this season because if we had been focused till the end we would be in a better position,” added the Mathare skipper.
With survival points at stake and tension rising at the bottom end of the table, Sunday’s showdown at Kasarani Annex promises to be a fiercely contested battle between two sides desperate to steer clear of relegation trouble.
Tickets for the match are retailing at Kshs 200 and can be purchased via fanpass.ke.