KPL ties promise more shocks and intrigue this weekend

Chemelil players celebrate winning a past KPL encounter. They remain unbeaten this season. [PHOTO: FILE]

Following the Easter break last weekend, Kenya Premier League (KPL) promises more shocks and intrigue today and tomorrow.

Supersport commentator Herbert Mwachiro is also the local football analyst on my ‘Saturday Sport’ show on Easy FM, and has the latest.

First of all FIFA is investigating Gor Mahia player Patrick Oboya. World football’s governing body is checking whether his signing is irregular, as he had a contract with a team from Vietnam, although K’Ogalo insist the contract was terminated.

Undoubtedly today’s top KPL game is AFC Leopards/Tusker in Machakos.

 AFC’s home base in Nairobi is normally Nyayo Stadium, although credit should be given to the management for letting the team play in different venues, and no doubt the Machakos Stadium management will ensure adequate security is provided for such a high profile league match.

Shaky form

Both teams have been in shaky form, AFC coming off a loss in their last KPL game, whilst Tusker have lost two on the trot and will be seeking to resume their form when they were leading the league just a couple of weeks ago.

Ingwe have not beaten Tusker in their last ten meetings, so this should be a very intriguing match.

Meanwhile second placed Chemilil played Thika United at home in a battle of sides in the top six, and Ulinzi clash with KCB, who beat Top Fry in their last game.

Tomorrow Kenya Revenue Authority could move into second place if all results fall their way, when they host Mathare who won their last game.

In the meantime Gor play Sony Sugar in Awendo, where passions are likely to run very high following the crowd troubles at the same venue last season.

Security will need to be beefed up for this controversial clash – as you may remember fans invaded the pitch after Gor’s goal was disputed, and this led to more hooliganism issues in subsequent clashes between the two teams.

In other matches that could determine the future of clubs at the top and bottom of the league, free-scoring Sofapaka play Western Stima whilst City Stars meet Nakuru’s Top Fry, whom are looking increasingly likely to return to the Nationwide League.

Sofapaka have scored the highest number of goals in the KPL and that trend looks likely to continue tomorrow.

Stars in focus

Kenya have been drawn with Comoros in the second round of qualifying for the African Cup Of Nations.

On paper Kenya should advance to the group stages, and they will need to keep up the momentum of their Cecafa Cup win and give fans something to cheer about by qualifying for next year’s tournament in Morocco.

Speaking of the national team, last week I wrote about the kit launch shambles and the disappointing look of the shirts. I have no doubts about the credentials of kit suppliers Joma, but please can the Football Kenya Federation management consult stakeholders before releasing kits in future?

trend started

Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo’s stunning drive last weekend at the KCB Kiambu Rally might just start a movement away from Group N towards S2000.

His stunning drive showed how quickly he adapted to the Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 rally car, giving the Malaysian manufacturer its first official win on the African continent.

It didn’t all go well for the two S2000 cars, as Alistair Cavanagh had a problem with the radiator fan and was forced to retire on Sunday morning with overheating problems.

The S2000 category appears to be the way forward in the Kenya National Rally Championship, with Tundo and his co-driver Tim Jessop suggesting that “cheque books will be opened”.

The fact that the Proton is a purpose-built car for competition, and showed other drivers that its superior power-to-weight ratio over other Group N vehicles will make it very hard to beat Tundo in particular, as he and Jessop showed in Kiambu, overcoming a four-minute deficit on Saturday due to a puncture to catch and overtake his rivals.

However, the reigning national champion Baldev Chager can count himself unlucky, as he was forced to retire with mechanical problems whilst leading.

Replacement

Ian Duncan said this week that he is unhappy with his Mitsubishi Evolution 9 and is shopping around for a replacement.

Whether the local rally legend goes the way of the S2000 remains to be seen, although I would suspect at this point he may remain in the Group N category as he has nothing to prove, having won everything motorsport has to offer in this country.

This is going to be a very interesting rally season –– with Nakuru next, which ironically is being organised by Flash’s father Frank Tundo on the weekend of the 24th and 25th of May in the Eldama Ravine area.

— The writer is a sport journalist and runs a consulting firm.   

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