With both teams desperate for a win, team captain Brian Ochieng believes this is going to be our toughest match yet
Mathare United travel to play Premier League debutants APS Bomet in Kericho on Sunday, seeking to snap a run of back-to-back defeats and spark a season turnaround.
John Kamau’s men have started the season slowly and, through their first seven games, have won twice and earned seven points. This stuttering start has the Slumboys in 13th place in the table, just a point above the relegation zone.
Sunday’s hosts are also going through a similar run of form. They, however, have fared much worse and sit at rock bottom.
With both teams desperate for a win, team captain Brian Ochieng believes this is going to be our toughest match yet.
“Playing against teams that sit in the lower half of the table is always tough. Bomet are in a tricky place and are seeking to claw their way out of the bottom three, while we are plotting to pull further away from the red zone. It’s therefore going to be a very, very tough match, considering also that we’ve both lost consecutive games and no one would want to lose three in a row,” Ochieng, who is now getting back to full fitness after a month-long injury layoff, shared.
Ochieng, affectionately referred to as Rio by his peers, had a bright start to the season as the pivot in our midfield, but was unfortunate to suffer a thigh injury just three matches in. The injury kept him out of games against Kariobangi Sharks, Shabana and Gor Mahia. He did, however, return as an unused substitute in our last match against AFC Leopards, and he has revealed the struggles of watching his teammates battle it out from the stands.
He said, “First of all, I want to give thanks to the Most High, as it has been a tough period with the injury, and I am truly grateful to be back. Watching your teammates go through a lot while feeling you should be out there with them is tough for a player.
“I got injured during training, and I wasn’t expecting to get injured, especially this early in the season. I am glad to be back, and hopefully I have done enough in training this week to be considered for the matchday squad.”