Gor Mahia begin title defence against Sofapaka as newly-promoted Shabana, Murang’a get tricky opponents

Gor Mahia players lift the 2022-2023 FKF Premier League title Photo Credit: Jonah Onyango [Standard]

FKFPL Gor Mahia begin title defence against Sofapaka as newly-promoted Shabana, Murang’a get tricky opponents

Joel Omotto 12:54 - 13.07.2023

K’Ogalo will begin the 2023-24 campaign against Batoto Ba Mungu while Tore Bobe have Kariobangi Sharks on matchday one.

Gor Mahia will begin their Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) title defence against Sofapaka while newly-promoted Shabana FC and Murang’a Seal have tricky starts against Kariobangi Sharks and Kenya Police FC respectively.

According to the fixture list released on Thursday, the 2023-24 Premier League campaign will start on August 26 where there will be five matches, including Gor Mahia’s match against Sofapaka as well as Shabana and Sharks tie.

The following day, four matches will be on show, including AFC Leopards’ first league tie at home to FC Talanta, Police hosting Murang’a while the winner of the promotion playoff between Migori Youth and Wazito FC will open their campaign against Nairobi City Stars.

The first serving of the Mashemeji Derby will come on Saturday, September 30 when AFC Leopards will host bitter rivals Gor Mahia.

While Mashemeji Derby remains the biggest fixture on the calendar, Shabana’s promotion has added flavour to the mix with their matches against both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards set to spark fireworks.

The first installment of that will come on September 23 when Leopards play at home to Shabana before Tore Bobe host Gor Mahia on October 29, a match that should spark a lot of interest.

Meanwhile, Tusker FC, who lost the title on the final day by just one point, begin their season in Mombasa against Twahir Muhiddin’s Bandari FC who had a brilliant end to the 2023-24 campaign that earned the veteran coach the job on a permanent basis.

Gor Mahia will be seeking to defend their crown having gone against the odds to pip Tusker to last season’s crown but Jonathan McKinstry’s men will have to balance between domestic and continental assignments, having qualified for the CAF Champions League.

K’Ogalo have a tough run of matches from September 20 when they will face Kakamega Homeboyz, who beat them in the league and FKF Cup last season, KCB, AFC Leopards, and Tusker who will put their title credentials to a great test.