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K’Ogalo returned to the top of the table while the sugar millers joined the title race after silencing the brewers in Bungoma
Title hopefuls Gor Mahia and Nzoia Sugar were the biggest beneficiaries of Matchweek 26 in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) following important victories over Kenya Police and Tusker FC respectively.
Those wins had a huge bearing at the top of the table as Gor assumed the league leadership while Nzoia sneaked into the title contest that had been seen as a two-horse race.
With six matches remaining before the season ends, the table makes for some interesting reading as it is hard to know the destiny of the title with the lead changing hands twice in a week. Pulse Sports looks at the winners and losers of the FKF-PL Matchweek 26.
Winner: Gor Mahia
Gor headed into the weekend’s matches second on the table having seen Tusker dislodge then in midweek but ended it at the top following the brewers’ loss to Nzoia.
K’Ogalo won the ‘Sirkal’ derby, after beating Kenya Police 1-0 on Saturday and with Tusker losing, they regained their lead at the top with a tally of 56 points, two ahead of Robert Matano’s men to set up an exciting title run-in.
Johnathan McKinstry’s men have benefited from a strong defence, being the team with the fewest goals conceded (14), and given they have no problems scoring (league’s top scorers with 40 goals), especially with 24-goal hero Benson Omala in their ranks, they look well stocked for a fascinating contest as they bid for a record extending 20th title, having gone empty handed in the last two seasons.
Loser: Tusker FC
While Gor were celebrating, Tusker were licking their wounds after seeing Nzoia end their seven-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 win in Bungoma on Saturday.
Matano’s men had been the form team of the league after putting together six straight wins to storm to the summit but met their waterloo in Bungoma when James Kibande’s 21st minute spot-kick made all the difference.
Matano fumed over a disallowed Jackson Macharia goal while questioning the standards of officiating but it was too little too late as his side failed to do it on the pitch and they will now play catch up once more, as they remain second on the table with 54 points.
Winner: Nzoia Sugar
The Sugar millers were rank outsiders in the title race before last weekend’s matches, having been six points way from the top but they are now five adrift following their morale-boosting win over Tusker.
Salim Babu’s men have been on a seven-match unbeaten run, including the last three wins, and look capable of pushing the leading duo to the very end given how they contained Tusker.
Given they are yet to lose to either Gor or Tusker this season and seem to beat the lower-ranked teams, the leading two will find it hard to shake them off.
Loser: AFC Leopards
Ingwe have had a week to forget having squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with title-chasing KCB on Sunday as the bankers did their cause a favour of some sorts to remain fourth on 49 points, seven behind leaders Gor.
It completed a miserable week for Ingwe who were heavily punished for the chaos that saw their match with Kakamega Homeboyz abandoned due to fan trouble with the points from the match awarded to the home side while they were also docked a further three points.
Throwing away two more points, therefore, was the last thing the Ingwe faithful would have wanted but it is exactly what happened when Peter Thiong’o and Eugene Mukangula’s goals disappeared in thin air as Cliff Oruko and Francis Kahiro scored late for a share of the spoils.
The draw extends Leopards’ winless run to five matches, dropping from fifth place to eighth over that period, although coach Patrick Aussems will be encouraged that his side scored for the first time since beating Bandari 1-0 on March 21.
Winner: Nairobi City Stars
While the top end of the table had its fair share of drama, the bottom was not spared with Nairobi City Stars making it back-back-wins following a massive 2-1 victory against Karaibangi Sharks which leaves them 15th on the 18-team log with 26 points, 10 above the dreaded relegation zone.
Mathare United occupy the relegation playoff place in 16th and are four points behind City Stars who are breathing a sigh of relief having looked in danger of going down.
There was a win for second from bottom Wazito FC but it left them 10 points behind City Stars and it appears it will be them, Mathare and basement side Vihiga Bullets who will be fighting to avoid relegation unless they put together an incredible winning run in the last six matches.
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