Nairobi — Rangers and Kenya Commercial Bank have an opportunity to top the Kenyan Premier League this weekend with only four matches on the card.
Rangers, second on the grid and by all means the team of the first leg, play basement Nairobi City Stars on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium where victory will take them to the top of the competition.
On 25 points Rangers are one behind leaders Tusker FC, who have no assignment this weekend, but have scored more goals.
Third-placed KCB will have met champions Ulinzi Stars at Karuturi where a win will temporarily put them at the crest.
Postponed three games
Kenya Premier League has postponed three games to give the national team ample time to prepare for next weekend's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Angola.
An accusing finger is being pointed at KPL who, having last week said they would shelve all matches, reversed the decision over live match coverage on SuperSport.
Ordinarily, a club with three or more players in the national team is given time off. Ulinzi and Rangers each has three players in Harambee Stars and Rangers have threatened to withdraw theirs.
But still, there may be a shift in the leadership of the league if Rangers manage to hive a point off City Stars on Sunday.
Ulinzi, who will be without their leading marksman Mike Baraza, Chester Okoyo and defender Collins Kisuya, start as favourites against KCB, who lost 0-1 to Karuturi last weekend.
The barracks boys have had a good run over the bankers, scoring seven times in the two legs last season and, given the champions' form, a KCB win would be considered an upset. Should the bankers win, the teams will swap places.
Ulinzi coach Benjamin Nyangweso however says he does not underrate the bankers, who have won seven of their 12 games and have collected 23 points.
"They (KCB) are a young side with so much ambition. We will go into the game with an open mind and we will not underestimate their abilities," said Nyangweso.
Karuturi Sports, buoyed by the four points they picked in Nairobi last week, go into their home match with Western Stima more confident, having broken a seven-match winless streak with a win over KCB last Sunday. They also held Sofapaka and beat KCB.
Coach James Nandwa however meets a Stima side that is also beaming with confidence after defeating Bandari last weekend and qualifying to the finals of the Sh1 million Top Eight tournament with their elimination of Sofapaka in Nairobi.
'It's going to be a tough game'
Said Nandwa: "It's definitely going to be a tough game. Both teams will want to maintain their good run."
The other game today pits Chemelil against newcomers Congo United.
Coach Michael Nam has promised to ensure Rangers climb to the top on Sunday.
"City Stars have beaten Gor Mahia and Sofapaka; we must be wary of them. But we will also be out to beat them," said Nam, who is expected to welcome back head coach David Ouma in the bench.
The matches that were postponed are Mathare versus Bandari, Sony Sugar versus Gor and Sofapaka versus AFC Leopards.
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