AFC Leopards will today, Wednesday welcome Ugandan side KCCA in Machakos, in what marks the first Kenyan club’s major engagement of the season.

Is there a story unfolding in your community? Let Hivisasa know

The match will kick off at 3 pm and will be used by both sides as preparations for the upcoming matches in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup which kick off next month.

Kenya’s Gor Mahia have been paired against Equatorial Guinea champions Leones Vegetarianos in the Champions League while KCCA is drawn against Madagascan side CNaPS.

The GOtv Shield winners, AFC Leopards have been in pre-season training for the last five weeks, and they are to showcase their superiority against their international opponents as they prepare to mount an assault on this year’s Kenyan Premier League title.

In the Confederation Cup, they have been drawn against Fosa Juniors of Madagascar.

Coach Robert Matano will use this opportunity to assess his 17 new signings during the match while testing the fitness levels of the team ahead of the Super Cup clash against their arch-rivals Gor Mahia scheduled for this Sunday.

The 17 new players include Gor Mahia run away Collins 'Gattuso' Okoth, Ezekiel Owade, forwards Ezekiel Otuoma and Ezekiel Odera, Ghanaian Prince Ako, Nigerian Henry Uche and Ugandan winger Baker Alukoya.  

“This is just a friendly match but it is very important because we are both preparing for continental matches.

“I have been with the new players for weeks now and they have demonstrated great potential. Wednesday will be another good opportunity to watch them and gauge their strengths,” said Matano. 

The Ugandan club is on a preseason tour of Kenya which saw them lose 4-2 to league champions Gor Mahia last Saturday, before recovering to beat Tusker 1-0 on Monday afternoon in Ruaraka.

Tuesday's match against Ingwe will be their second last engagement before they play Sofapaka on Friday in Narok.

KCCA are missing four key players who are at the moment with the Ugandan national team in Morocco for the ongoing African Nations Championship.

The four are Benjamin Ochan, Isaac Mulume, Sadaam Juma and star striker Derrick Nsibambi.