Mathare United and Kariobangi Sharks clash in the Slum Derby on Sunday
The lads will be back in action again on Sunday, playing their fourth league game in less than two weeks, when they host Kariobangi Sharks for the Slum Derby at the Kasarani Stadium Annex from 1 pm.
Recent meetings haven’t favoured us as we’ve won just one of the last six encounters. However, John Kamau isn’t focusing on history going into the game, but feels there is one aspect in which our opponents have an edge over us.
“I don’t concentrate so much on the past,” Kamau, who was in the dugout for one of last season’s two matches against Sharks, opined, “For example, last season, both teams had different setups. We have new players on board, and so do Sharks. The most important thing is not the past but the moment which is now, who are we facing, and how we will perform? This is my mindset.”
“With that said, I do believe Sharks have an advantage over us, and this is that, they have had more time to prepare for the match than us. They last played on Tuesday while we were in action on Wednesday. Having more than 72 hours for recovery is an advantage.”
With the league having a busy start, matches have been lumped in together, and for us, we haven’t had more than three days between matches since we played our first game on September 22.
After defeat on Round One, Kamau’s charges have regrouped and picked up four points from their last two games, defeating KCB and then drawing with Tusker last time out. They have also kept successive clean sheets.
With Sunday’s game having a special feel to it as a Derby, Kamau has chosen to detach his players from the emotional side of the match, leaving that only for the fans.
He said, “The issue of it being a derby doesn’t play a big, big role. I don’t want us to solely focus on it being a derby, but on our principles. How do we implement the strategy that we have to get the three points, and how do we leave the aspect of the “derby” to the fans? I think if we can give the fans the three points, then they will be even happier.”
A first win over Sharks since 2023 will see us tie league leaders Posta Rangers on seven points going into the international break.