GOR, BE WARNED: No room for errors as K'Ogalo chase Tusker in league title battle

Centre Referee George Mwai, left, penalise Gor Mahia's Harun Shakava during KPL match against City Stars at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 24, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Is Gor Mahia handing the Kenyan Premier League title back to Tusker after keeping it for three years?

And are the brewers willing to wrestle for the gong they last held in 2012, when they pinched it from Gor Mahia's in the last moments of that season?

The two sides have shared the league title over the last five years and going into the last five games, either one could be declared the champions.

Last weekend’s games may have a slight pointer as to where the title is headed after Tusker beat Muhoroni 2-1 and Gor Mahia drew away against Sofapaka. Tusker now enjoy a four-point gap at the top of the table.

But with tricky matches still ahead - Gor has to play AFC Leopards and Tusker travels to Mombasa to play Bandari then face Sony Sugar in Awendo - it remains too close to call.

Gor fans would not want to see a repeat of 2012. They had wrapped the title, or so they thought, only to draw with Thika United on the final day as Tusker beat City Stars 3-0, a score that was enough to hand them the trophy.

But they should be braced for any eventuality. The trophy game will be at the Nyayo Stadium on the last day of the season when the two sides clash in the final. It would be an anti-climax of sorts if the two sides went into this final game with one side already out of the race.

Gor coach Marcelo Ferreira 'Ze Maria' was definitely disappointed with the draw against Sofapaka.

“How we could not score baffles me. This is a game we should have won easily, but we have now given ourselves a mountain to climb,” he said.

While Tusker have held on to the top position for a longer period in the season, they have also been aided by Gor Mahia, who look willing to play the flower girl role. The champions have dropped points when they were expected to win; worse still, even when Tusker showed signs of slowing down.

“None of these two teams wants to be champions,” football analyst and former Tusker coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee said. “When Tusker drop points, Gor do the same. When Gor is expected to win, they drop points,” he added.

But the four-point gap with five matches to go leaves the title race wide open. Neither of the two sides has an easy ride to the final day.

Tusker will need to win all their remaining games to be sure of the trophy. Among the tricky assignments is the one against AFC Leopards in Nakuru before the big one against Gor Mahia, who face Western Stima in Nairobi before meeting Ingwe in the 'Mashemeji' derby. K'Ogalo also have a date with Mathare United.

“It remains very tricky but their (Gor Mahia) draw with Sofapaka has done us some good,” said Tusker coach Paul Nkata.

“We are not looking at them. Our mission now is to win the next four games, then have them hand the title to us on the final day,” he added.

For Gor Mahia, it's a different story altogether. They must win all their remaining fixtures.