Who will blink first in the race for KPL title?

Kenya Premier League (KPL) is fast shaping up to be a two horse race between defending champions Gor Mahia and leaders Tusker FC.

Tusker is patched at the top of the league with 35 points while Gor is second with 30 points. Despite the league still having 13 games to go, the signs are ominous as close challengers Mathare United and Ulinzi Stars seems to be running out of steam at a crucial moment with both losing their matches over the weekend.

The brewers on their part are on a six-match unbeaten run amassing 15 points in the process. The Paul Nkata-coached side has been boosted by June signings who has put in studious performances when called upon; case in point being Robert Omunuk and Hashim Sempala.

Omunuk, making a return to the team from Sony Sugar, has been the cog that has kept the team’s wheel rolling in the second leg. His combination play with striker Michael Khamati has kept the club’s striking department purring. This has been an area where the club has had problems with in previous seasons.

Ugandan Sampala from Bul FC has also played an instrumental role in propelling the 2012 KPL champions. The Ugandan together with Humphrey Mieno and Luis Khamadi have solidified the midfield and made it hard to break.

Another June signing brings with him an enviable record. Allan Wetende Wanga who is returning to the club from Azam in Tanzania has the record of winning a league title with every club he features for. Does this ring a bell?

Tusker over the weekend broke their jinx against Ulinzi Stars coming from a goal down to dispatch the army men. Having lost against the team in the first leg and previously struggling against the side, this was a sure sign that the team is on a mission this season.

K’Ogalo on the other hand, has not lost a match since being controversially beaten by Tusker, a record covering eight games.

With the signing of Baron Oketch from Western Stima coupled with the return of Meddie Kagere, the club’s striking force looks lethal. You can remember this was the department that won the club the league last season.

The club suffered in the first leg with the goal scoring burden placed on Jacques Tuyisenge with the indifferent forms of George Odhiambo, Jacob Keli and Enock Agwanda. This is now bound to change with Kagere already marking his return to the league with a goal. The elevation of Francis Kahata to a playmaker by Coach Ze Maria has also had the team creating numerous goal scoring chances – a timely boost to the strikers.

Collins Okoth has also recovered from injury and is ready to form an impenetrable partnership with Ernest Wendo in the central midfield position. Don’t forget that Godfrey Walusimbi has also reported from the doctor’s table.

The other two teams who might have put up a fight in the title race, Mathare and Ulinzi, appear to be in a panic mode with the latter losing two matches on the bounce while the former facing a run of relatively difficult matches in the remaining fixtures.