Later this evening one of the biggest clashes in the Kenyan Premier League will be on when defending Champions Sofapaka takes on AFC Leopards under floodlights at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The clash, in all perspectives will be interesting considering AFC will be led onto the pitch by Sofapaka’s past manager Robert Matano and 2009 Premier League Coach of The Year who delivered the crown to “Batoto ba mungu” on their debut season.

It will be an all too familiar team that Matano will be facing considering he head hunted most of the players he will be facing today.

Sofapaka come into the game placed third on the table with 29 points, six off the pace of leaders Ulinzi Stars while AFC Leopards sit seventh five points adrift of the defending Champions.

In the past round of games, AFC Leopards rallied from 1-3 against KCB to finally win it 4-3 in what was Matano’s first win since taking over at the club and the first win for the club in the second leg.

Ironically, Matano’s reject at Sofapaka – pacy winger Dimonde Selenge was his hero as he delivered a hat-trick and the winner also coming from his past player Harry Gentle. It was a Sofapaka influence, including the coach himself that sunk KCB.

Sofapaka narrowly won their last game with a late goal against a defense minded Karuturi Sports. The lone goal came from Humphrey Mieno who has been included in the Harambee Stars squad for face Tanzania next week.

It will be interesting to see how the master – Matano can turn around most of his potent but inexperienced outfit against his former team Sofapaka which in every sense is regarded as a squad of internationals and an assembly of the finest player in the KPL.

Matano’s strategy will have to outwit that of his predecessor Sam Ssimbwa who needs to get a way past leopards, a team that claimed a 1-0 win over his team during the first leg.

Allan Wanga is expected to return to the side after recovering from a harm string injury during the Karuturi game. With John Baraza upfront and buoyed by a midfied of Anthony Kimani, James Situma, Humphrey Mieno and a defense of George Owino, Edgar Ochieng and Thomas Heskey Wanyama Sofapaka is set to chase a win off Leopards at Nyayo.

But with stars call up Lawrence Webo in between the posts three turn-a-rounds Paul Odhiambo, Abdulrahman Shaban and Joseph Okumu, the ever dependable Selenge and the cool heads of Martin Imbalala and Harry Gentle, AFC is ready to give as much as they will take in the live game today.

Kickoff: 7.00 pm, Nyayo National Stadium