SportPesa League action continues this weekend despite the ongoing FIFA international break, with most clubs set to feature in Round Nine fixtures. Only record champions Gor Mahia and continental representatives Nairobi United have been granted exemption, each missing several key players away on national duty.

Gor Mahia have seven players in the Harambee Stars squad, while Nairobi United contributed two — all part of the team set to face Equatorial Guinea on November 14 at the Emir Complex and Senegal on November 18 at the Mardan Stadium in Antalya, Turkey.

Their absence means the high-profile fixtures between Kariobangi Sharks and Gor Mahia, as well as Shabana versus Nairobi United, have been postponed to later dates.

Friday’s curtain-raiser pits KCB FC against Bidco United at the Kasarani Annex — an early evening clash offering both sides a chance to steady their inconsistent starts. KCB, who began the season brightly by stunning Tusker FC, have since endured a poor run with just one win in their last six matches and three defeats in their last four. A draw away to Bandari in Mbaraki last weekend offered some respite, and Coach Robert Matano will hope it marks the start of a turnaround.

Bidco United have also struggled for rhythm, recording just one win in their last four matches, alongside two draws and a loss. They will be eager to bounce back after last Friday’s defeat to Tusker. With both teams wary of slipping further behind, this fixture should set the tone for an intriguing weekend.

On Saturday, with league leaders Gor Mahia sitting out, Kakamega Homeboyz have a golden opportunity to reclaim top spot if they can secure victory away to Mathare United at Kasarani Stadium (4 p.m.). The clash promises a tactical duel between Patrick Odhiambo’s disciplined Homeboyz and a Mathare side desperate to halt a poor run after back-to-back defeats.

Homeboyz will be seeking a winning response following consecutive draws that cost them the summit, while Mathare ;winless in three – will draw encouragement from their 1–1 stalemate away to APS Bomet last weekend. The Slum Boys will again look to Elli Asieche for inspiration against a well-organized Homeboyz side.

Defending champions Kenya Police will aim to recover from last weekend’s 2–0 loss to Gor Mahia when they travel to face Tusker FC at the SportPesa Arena in Murang’a on Sunday. It will be a meeting of two ambitious teams seeking consistency. Tusker, under Charles Okere, are unbeaten in their last five matches and come into this tie boosted by a spirited 1–1 draw against Homeboyz in their previous outing.

In Mombasa, Bandari FC host Sofapaka at the KPA Sports Club in what is traditionally one of the league’s most unpredictable fixtures. Sofapaka, buoyed by their emphatic 2–0 victory over Posta Rangers on Monday, will hope to maintain momentum against a Bandari side that has gone four games without a win and managed just one victory in eight rounds so far.

Elsewhere, Posta Rangers face Mara Sugar in Friday’s early kickoff at Kasarani Annex. Rangers are looking to bounce back from their defeat to Sofapaka and end a four-match winless streak, while Mara Sugar will seek to sustain their confidence after a morale-boosting 2–0 win over AFC Leopards last weekend.

AFC Leopards themselves will be back in action on Sunday evening against Murang’a Seal at Nyayo Stadium, eager to respond after that defeat to Mara Sugar ended their impressive 14-match unbeaten run under Boniface Ambani. Before that setback, Leopards had registered three straight wins, and this fixture will test their resilience and character.

At Kericho Green Stadium, APS Bomet host Ulinzi Stars in a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash, with both sides desperate to climb out of the relegation zone. APS Bomet showed signs of improvement with a draw against Mathare last week, while Ulinzi’s struggles continue – four defeats in their last five matches leaving them in dire need of points. New coach Stephen Ochola, who replaced Danstun Nyaudo, has overseen one draw and one loss in his first two games and will be desperate to turn things around.

Round 9 Full fixture

With several key players away on international duty, Round Nine provides a platform for fringe players across the league to step up and impress, ensuring that despite the FIFA break, the SportPesa League weekend will still deliver plenty of storylines and surprises.