Is 2021 the written ending of Mathare United's Premier league story?

Mathare United FC moments before kickoff [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Mathare United is at risk of being relegated at the end of the 2021 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League season after failing to win their 14th match of the campaign as the local football league resumed over the weekend under strict Covid-19 protocols.

The league was suspended on March 26 after President Uhuru Kenyatta banned all sporting activities in the country, owing to the increased Covid-19 infections.

Mathare played out to a 0-0 draw with Vihiga United, a result that left them bottom of the league standings with seven points.

Out of the 14 matches played, the Slum Boys have only registered one win against Nzoia Sugar back in February.

They would have had two wins but their 2-0 victory over Zoo FC in January was scrapped following FIFA’s May 4 decision to relegate Zoo FC to Division One after finding them culpable of match-fixing.

This leaves Mathare with seven points from their one win and four draws after losing matches to Sofapaka, Gor Mahia, Ulinzi Stars, Tusker, Bidco United, Nairobi City Stars, Kakamega Homeboyz, Posta Rangers and Kariobangi Sharks.

Despite having two games in hand, Salim Ali’s charges have a huge task ahead with safety only assured if they leapfrog either Western Stima or Vihiga United, who are both five points ahead of them and played two games more.

To start off their push for survival again after missed opportunity over the weekend, Mathare have to face fourth-placed KCB who are pushing to for the title this year, before tackling inform AFC Leopards this coming weekend.

Mathare was founded in 1994 to help youth and their families escape poverty in the Mathare slums. They won the 1998 Presidents Cup, the same year they were promoted to the then Kenya Premier League.

They won their first and only league title during the 2008 season.

Meanwhile, round 16 of this season’s FKF-PL saw AFC Leopards underline their title credentials with a massive 1-0 win over Nzoia Sugar, a victory that propelled them to second in the log behind Tusker.

Leopards closed the gap on Tusker to within two points with a game in hand, after the Brewers failed to beat 10-man KCB in a 0-0 draw in Ruaraka.

Four points separate the top four teams with Kariobangi Sharks joining the title race mix after resuming the league with a 1-0 victory over Kakamega Homeboyz, moving them to third on the log with 31 points.

The Bankers dropped to fourth with 30 points after their stalemate with leaders Tusker.

Sofapaka moved to the bottom half table after a man-of-the-match performance by former Gor Mahia midfielder Lawrence Juma inspired them to a 2-0 win over moneybags Wazito FC to move to ninth in the standings with 19 points.

Four draws were registered in the weekend with Western Stima, Posta Rangers, Bandari and Bidco United sharing the spoils alongside Tusker, KCB, Mathare and Vihiga.

Round 16 FKF Premier League Results

K. Sharks 1-0 KK Homeboyz

W. Stima 1-1 Posta Rangers

Tusker 0-0 KCB

Bandari 1-1 Bidco United

AFC Leopards 1-0 Nzoia Sugar

Mathare 0-0 Vihiga

Gor Mahia 1-0 Nairobi City Stars

Sofapaka 2-0 Wazito