Matano: Tusker has not bottled KPL title hopes

Tusker coach Robert Matano is adamant that the Kenyan Premier League title race will go down to the wire despite his side's stumble against Wazito last weekend.

After missing a chance to maintain a four-point gap on league leaders Gor Mahia (48) with a 1-1 draw against Wazito, the third-placed brewers have an opportunity today to bounce back to winning ways when they travel to relegation-threatened side Kisumu All Stars.

While Tusker will be seeking to redeem themselves in Kisumu, their two closest rivals Gor and second-placed Kakamega Homeboyz (44) will both be in action against visiting Western Stima and Nzoia Sugar, today and tomorrow.

And just like record champions K'Ogalo, AFC Leopards will be looking for a morale-boosting win against Chemelil Sugar in Kericho today ahead of next weekend's second leg of the Mashemeji Derby.

Dark horses KCB (41) and Ulinzi Stars (39) face tests against Sofapaka and Bandari in Machakos.

However, with at least six teams technically in contention for the title and less than twelve games to go, Matano whose side still has a game in hand believes the title race will not be decided until the final match of the season.

Interestingly, the brewers, who are still enjoying a 14-game unbeaten run, are scheduled to clash with Gor on May 23, the final day of the campaign.

"There is no panic mode despite the Wazito draw because we still have twelve matches to go and we will continue fighting. Last minute mistakes cost us the three points against Wazito but that's the nature of the game," Matano said.

“We are strongly still in the title race. I hope the race will go down to the wire and with the way things are, we have to fight until the end.

"The Wazito draw doesn't mean that we have lost the title. This is not about mathematics, but football. Yes, we are still unbeaten but that doesn't count, what we needed most in this game was the three points. It's just disappointing the way we dropped the two points."

And with the attitude in his team, Matano is confident Tusker will replicate their 2016 performance to end Gor's dominance in the league this season.

"I'm 100 per cent we will do it again this season. The spirit is there and the blood is feeling the same, we have to move on and on. Football is a marathon and not 100m dash. But in this situation, we have to persevere and fight," the two-time league winning coach said.

KCB coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno also feels that the title race is far from over. "Though we are still within our target, we are taking one game at a time.

"When the league started, no team had played its matches. So, the title can be won by the team which wins many of its matches and that's exactly what we are trying to do."