Arsenal Vs Chelsea Sunday 5pm
My Prediction: The Gunners 3-1 The Blues
I really wanted to predict the Cecafa Kagame Cup semi final first but my deadlines don’t allow me to wait until the semi final matches have been played, so I’m afraid you’ll have to tune into The Score on Kiss 100 and the Classic 105 Kick off to know my thoughts on that. Let me fly across borders and focus on the Community Shield. This game is actually tomorrow not today so I’m a little miffed but I intend to enjoy it nonetheless. The rivalry that has been created between these two teams particularly over the past decade or so, has been intense. Most of the headlines though have been about the managers and the jibes they have thrown to each other. Chelsea of course has been the more successful team but there have been instances when Arsenal have surprised them. This time around I think the Gunners are more up to the task against the Blues than in recent years. We match Chelsea almost man for man, not to mention that the man who will start between our goal posts, knows the Chelsea players like the back of his hand. Even though this is a “friendly” on paper, there is nothing friendly about Arsenal and Chelsea facing each other. If Wenger starts with Petr Cech in goal; which he will; then Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Mathieu Debuchy, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud (who I hope is at his best), the Gunners have little to worry about. The only reason Alexis Sanchez isn’t in my line-up is because he is still recovering from the gruelling Copa America and will be back in action for the Gunners next weekend. We have a good side and we have a decent bench! Allan Shearer meanwhile is tipping Chelsea to not just win the Community Shield but to win the league again if other teams don’t step up. The Blues have added Radamel Falcao and keeper Asmir Begovic to their ranks, and while Falcao didn’t impress at all during his season at Old Trafford, we all know that he has the ability to score goals if the situation is right. Leading their attack will also be the age-defying Diego Costa; and Eden Hazard; players who I’m sure Cech will fend off rather easily. Yes I said that tongue in cheek. Both clubs can smash the other team on a good day but I just believe that Arsenal’s confidence gained from a highly successful off season will carry the day.
AFC Leopards Vs Bandari Monday 5pm
My Prediction: Ingwe 1-1 Bandari
AFC Leopards are disappointing me once again. No I don’t support them but I like it when big teams do well. After starting the second half of the season really well, they stumbled in Awendo last weekend and it was no surprise. They were without coach Zdravko Logarusic who boycotted the game because he hasn’t been paid in months. Several of the players also haven’t been paid and it’s the same old problem of lack of motivation because player’s minds are on their problems at home. I don’t know how a team that hasn’t been paid can perform and it’s unfortunate because this club appeared to be heading for a very respectable position this Saturday. Bandari aren’t an easy team to beat. Last weekend Sofapaka had to come from a goal down to beat the coastals 2-1. The problem however is that Bandari players tend to struggle in Nairobi’s “high altitude” compared to their “sea level.” But they will still take advantage of an uninspired Ingwe side. Leapards can win this if the management make sure they are focused; and that means giving the players and coach some money. Just so you know we will be interviewing Logarusic live on The Score this afternoon and hopefully he can give us more insight into the Ingwe problems.