With both teams having a philosophy of playing passing football, it goes without saying that the Slum Derby is always an entertaining affair. The skills, the flair, the tactics and the goals are always special and memorable. Speaking of goals, all but one of the previous six meetings have provided goals.

Kariobangi Sharks have the better of Mathare with three wins in this fixture, compared to the one win for Mathare and the other two have ended draws.

This is how the games have turned out in summary;

2017 Season

Machakos Stadium hosted the first Slum Derby on 9th May 2017 in our first season at the top flight. The Sharks started on the wrong foot with Mathare taking an early lead in the first half which they clearly dominated.

In the second half, the boys came back rejuvenated and won a penalty in the 56th minute but it was unfortunately missed by Pascal Owgeno. They continued pushing and finally grabbed an equalizer courtesy of a thunderbolt from Bolton Omwenga and quickly added another won via a Masud Juma header with Tayo Odongo being the provider of both goals. It ended 1-2 in favorof Sharks.

We hosted them for the second leg at the Kasarani Stadium and this time, the boys brought their A game running away with a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals Mathare’s old boy Duke Abuya, Ovella Ochieng and Masud Juma. Goalkeeper Robert Mboya marked a fine display between the sticks saving a penalty against his former employers.

2018 Season

The third Slum Derby was played at the Camp Toyoyo grounds and it marked the first draw of the fixture. Clifford Alwanga’sfirst half header was cancelled out by a Patila Omoto header in the second half in hugely entertaining head to head affair and that is how the game ended; 1-1.

The second leg game of this season saw Sharks suffer the first and only defeat in the derby. Erick Kapaito opened the scoring in the first half slotting home from a Harrison Mwendwa cut back to give us the lead. The boys were to rue blowing away chances to double the lead as Mathare equalized late in the first half through Chris Oduor to send the game all square at the break. The visitors then grabbed the three points scoring a free kick in the last minute of the game.

2018/19

30th January 2019 marked the first goalless draw of the Slum Derby as both teams failed to convert their numerous chances in the match played at the Kasarani Stadium.

The second leg played at the same venue produced a memorable match in what is the highest scoring match in the Slum Derby. Sharks took the lead through Erick Kapaito who tapped in from an Eric Juma cross after a cleverly played set piece move. Duke Abuya doubled the lead just before half time after coolly slotting home in the box from yet another brilliant set piece move.

The hosts scored early in the second half and grew into the game creating chance after chance but the Sharks defence stood strong. It was substitute Julius Masaba who settled the nerves after a ruthless counter attack that saw him round the goalkeeper before walking into an empty net. But there was still time for some late drama as Mathare scored their second on added time but the boys stood firm to hold on to the three points.

If records are anything to go by, then the boys will walk in to this weekend’s match heads high.