After dropping points in a stalemate against Posta Rangers over the weekend, Mathare United head coach John Kamau will be demanding a reaction from his charges as the Slum boys look to cash in on KCB when the two sides clash on Saturday.
Mathare were held to a 1-1 draw by the Mailmen, with Posta scoring first in the 29th minute through Faustine Ojiambo, sending the Mailmen into the interval with their noses in front.
The Slum Boys, however, refused to fold with their efforts eventually rewarded in the 72nd minute when Brian Ochieng found the net to restore parity and ensure the points were shared. The draw leaves Mathare sitting 12th on the log with 21 points.
With the second half of the 2025/26 SportPesa campaign gathering momentum, Kamau has rallied his side ahead of their tie with KCB, pointing out that the team dropped crucial points against Posta. “A point is better than none, but again I feel we dropped two points because in the first half, we were dominant,” Kamau said.
Despite the missed opportunity, the tactician was keen to take positives from the encounter, pointing to an improved second-half showing in which his side turned the screw and got back on level terms. “In the second half, we continued the tempo and created four good chances,” he noted.
Away from the pitch, Mathare have been active in the January transfer window, moving swiftly to bolster their squad as they plot a stronger second half of the season. One acquisition Kamau believes could prove vital is teenage prospect Harisson Amalemba, fresh out of high school and already making his first steps in senior football.
Amalemba joined the Slum Boys just days before the Posta clash and was handed his first start for Mathare, a significant vote of confidence from the technical bench. “Amalemba has a lot of potential, but again, the Premier League is a different ball game from high school,” Kamau said.
“He will take some time before he gets into the team properly, but I am happy we brought him into the team,” he added.
The tactician is convinced the youngster has a bright future and believes it may only be a matter of time before he outgrows the club.
“He is one player I think will not stay here for long. He might be out of this set-up very soon if he can start being dominant in his play,” Kamau remarked.
For his part, Amalemba admitted that making his start just days after signing took him by surprise, describing his debut as a valuable learning curve. “It was good exposure for me, playing my first match in the league,” he said.
“I did not expect to start immediately, but the coach saw my drive in training and decided to give me some game time.”
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