Off-tune Homeboyz pray for glory as KPL title race heads to the wire

Kakamega Homeboyz FC coach Bernard Mwalala reacts in a past FKF Premier League match at Kasarani Stadium. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kakamega Homeboyz are still hopeful of achieving their goal of winning their maiden FKF Premier League title despite AFC Leopards slowing down their title charge on Sunday.

Collins Shivachi and Kingsley Olaniyi's strikes saw Ingwe bad a 2-0 victory in the 15th edition of the ‘Ingo Derby’ played at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.

The defeat saw Benard Mwalala’s charges blow away the chance to go three points clear with two matches left, with their closest rivals Tusker not in action this weekend.

Homeboyz are still tied with Tusker at the top of the league table on 57 points after 31 rounds of matches, but the brewers boast a superior goal difference of four goals.

However, Homeboyz coach Mwalala is confident they can still pip Tusker to the league title despite failing to capitalise on their game in hand against Ingwe.

Speaking after the match, Mwalala said their focus and goal remains to win the title and are not giving up till the last day of the 2021-2022 season.

"I can’t explain what went wrong in the match against AFC Leopards but it is the way football is. You win and lose. These things happen in football, but we're still in the title fight, that's our focus.”

“We believe we still have a fighting chance to lift the league title. We had a good lead at the top six-weeks ago, which has since been reduced, but that doesn’t mean we give up. Anything can happen so we have to win our remaining two matches,” said Mwalala.

“We must continue pushing on and remain positive and hungry because we can’t lose hope now. This result should not put us down, but take it as a motivation."

The Kakamega-based team must now defeat FC Talanta and Kariobangi Sharks in their next matches as they chase their maiden league title.

However, if Tusker also beat Bidco United and Posta Rangers in their last two matches, the 2021-2022 title champions be decided on a goal difference.

Bandari are also in the mix of fighting for the title despite dropping two vital points in their 0-0 draw against nine-man Ulinzi Stars on Saturday.

The dockers are three points behind joint leaders Tusker and Homeboyz with 54 points and will be standing by to capitalise on any slip-up from the leaders.

Elsewhere, the relegation battle will also go down to the wire after Wazito lost their 18th match of the season.

Wazito's survival hopes suffered another huge setback with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bidco United.

The defeat leaves them occupying the relegation-promotion playoff spot, 16th in the log with 25 points, four ahead of Vihiga Bullets, who have three matches to play compared to Wazito’s two.

The two clubs will clash in the season finale which might determine who drops automatically and who goes to the playoffs.