KCB’s Matano wary of AFC Leopards threat ahead of crucial FKF PL tie
By Joel Masibo, February 26, 2026Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Football Club head coach Robert Matano is wary of the threat that the 1998 champions, AFC Leopards, pose as the two sides clash in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League tie on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Kasarani Stadium starting at 4:00 local time.
Placed second in the league standings with 40 points, six behind league leaders and arch rivals Gor Mahia, Ingwe will be keen to pile pressure and reduce the gap between them and K’Ogalo, who are showing no signs of relenting.
However, as Ingwe will be seeking to build on their 2-1 win over Posta Rangers in their previous league outing at Nyayo Stadium, Matano is optimistic that the Bankers are equal to the task as they have been training well in readiness for the particular encounter.
KCB will be approaching the Thursday match, intending to make amends after enduring a 3-0 trashing at the hands of record champions Gor Mahia in their last league outing, a defeat that Matano said will be a motivation factor for his men against Fred Ambani’s charges at Kasarani.
Matano optimistic
”We are preparing, we lost against Gor Mahia, to us is a motivation factor because we have lost. Now, it motivates us to work harder and we have to be well determined, we want to amend our past mistakes. AFC Leopards are like Gor Mahia; we saw how they operate, so we have been training to overcome. It is a tight match, but we are ready.” Matano sai. Ahead of the fixture, KCB are placed 10th on the log with 29 points in 19 matches.
Thursday fixtures
In other fixtures, APS Bomet, after frustrating defending champions Kenya Police in their last outing, will welcome Kariobangi Sharks at the Awendo Stadium in a fixture scheduled to kick off at 2:00 pm local time.
At Vapour Grounds, relegation-threatened Sofapaka will be hosting struggling Kenya Police FC in another league fixture starting at 1:00 pm local time, while Ulinzi Star will be hosting Kakamega Homeboyz at the Ulinzi Sports Complex starting at 2:00 pm. Elsewhere, Bidco United will also be in action against Mara Sugar at the Wang’uru Stadium, Mwea, starting at 2:00 pm.