Kenyan premier’s home stretch

By Tony Ngare

Last week Gor Mahia, affectionately, dubbed K’Ogalo by fans registered a major milestone at Western’s Bukhungu Stadium. Despite deafening noise blaring from the fans’ vuvuzelas, what a casual observer may not realise that after almost a year, K’Ogalo registered their first away win.

To put it more poignantly, Gor has many supporters everywhere but it is Nairobi that is arguably the bedrock of their support. In this league we have seven Nairobi-based teams meaning that some of Gor’s so-called away matches are pretty much played in Nairobi venues that are easily accessible to Gor’s fervent crowd. So why would one of the most enthusiastically supported teams struggle to register an away win? Gor has a habit of spawning interesting statistics. In the previous season, the team went for almost the entire first half season without a win worth writing home about. But that’s football for you.

Title race

With the title race entering into the final stretch, it appears that league leaders Ulinzi, Tusker, Gor could be in with a shout. Additionally, defending champions Sofapaka and former champions Mathare United may also have something to say regarding the title destination. However, with over 10 matches to play, it is still anybody’s league bar the tail enders. With the top five separated by a mere six points, this alludes that the home stretch could be one bruising battle.

One of the potential title deciders could be next weekend’s match between Mathare United and Gor Mahia. These two Nairobi heavyweights are bitter rivals and have a history of bitter contestations among the clubs’ faithful.

But it’s just as well that fans get a treat with the league promising to go all the way to the wire.