Newcomers Mombasa United will be on the road to hunt for their maiden SportPesa League victory when they visit Mara Sugar on Monday afternoon at 2 pm at Ole Ntimama Stadium.
The coastal outfit earned promotion to the top flight after weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with Kariobangi Sharks.
They eventually found themselves on the right side of the outcome when Sharks forfeited the second leg of the promotion playoffs, handing Mombasa United their ticket to the top tier.
Mombasa United then made their league debut at Mbaraki Sports Club against Kakamega Homeboyz, only to suffer a late 1-0 defeat.
They deflected the ball inside their own box in the closing minutes, denying themselves a point that could have provided valuable momentum heading into their second encounter.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Mombasa United head coach Abdi Moali believes his side is ready for the challenge as they look to bounce back from their opening-day setback.
“The team is in good spirits. We had good preparations for this game, and the players are eager to play our second match. More importantly, we want to bounce back from the home defeat last time out, and I think we are all excited for the game.
“The pitch is not in the best condition, but tactically, we have prepared for them, and I know the players will get the job done.”
Meanwhile, Mara Sugar will also be looking to register their first win of the campaign after being held to a 2-2 draw away to 3K FC in Embu.
In that encounter, the Sugar Millers had a chance to seal all three points, only for a late corner kick to see 3K restore parity. With a point already in the bag, they will now aim to take their tally to four this season.
Mara Sugar have also moved to a new home venue, shifting from the Awendo Green Stadium, which they frequently used last season, to Narok.
Head coach Mike Mururi believes his charges are well prepared for the fixture despite the unfamiliar surroundings.
“This is our first game at home, and I can say we have prepared the boys well and are very much ready. This is a new stadium for us, and it may not be familiar, but we are going to fight until the last minute.
We are playing a promoted side, and it is never easy to get a win against such a team, so we are not taking this clash lightly,” Mururi told the club’s media ahead of the encounter.
The two sides are no strangers to each other, having previously crossed paths in the National Super League. In their most recent meeting in 2024, Mara Sugar claimed a 2-0 victory.
While both teams will be chasing their first wins of the season, the same scenario will unfold at Mbaraki Sports Club, where Bandari FC host promoted side 3K FC from 4:15 pm.
Bandari settled for a goalless draw against AFC Leopards in their season opener, while 3K fought back to force a 2-2 stalemate at home against Mara Sugar.