Mourning the end of Kenyan Premier League

BY ANIL BAKARI

If it was in my powers, the Kenya Premier League (KPL) would not have ended, or taken vacation as it has.

This has been one of the most fascinating seasons in the history of the league, which until recently, was in the sewer.

Some of the teams came, saw and conquered by walking away with the trophy or finishing in top positions.

Others, however, came into the league, saw and ran away with their tails tagged between their legs back to Division I tournament.

Consequences

But that is not the reason I would not have ended the league, had I been in charge.

You see, the end of Premier League, just like dating a Nairobi girl, comes with many consequences.

 To begin with, without AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia or Sofapaka battling on the pitch, the focus now shifts 100 per cent to English Premier League (EPL).

Football fans will now fully dedicate their time to keeping tabs with the EPL undisturbed. So, brace yourself for the annoying ‘tuliwachapa’ kind of talks in the office, matatus and on the streets.

This does not imply the talks are not good, for they help some people bark and spew some intelligence. But how do they build the country?

For girls, the worst season has just begun. Unlike KPL matches that take place during the day for lack of floodlights in stadia, which sees men compete with hens to reach home, EPL keeps him away for the better part of the night. Ouch! Some of the matches are played until late into the night, ensuring he hangs out with his friends. While at it, men get an opportunity to ‘deep their fingers in unclaimed honey pots’.

Cheer

Besides that, while you can accompany your man to cheer Gor Mahia or Homeboyz FC at City Stadium and go back home together, he will not allow you to go with him at ‘The Place’ to watch Manchester United being beaten.

Then you wait and see; the end of KPL heralds the shrinking of local sports news in electronic and print media.

What sports lovers will start getting soon in newspapers, radio and TVs in terms of local sports news will be roundups of what happened here and there.

Thrashed

There will be no more newspaper spreads or five minutes of TV time of how Tusker FC were thrashed by Sony FC or Gor Mahia by KCB FC.

The Chelsea, Manchester United and the Arsenal of ‘that world’ will dominate sports news making it shameful to celebrate 50 years of independence.