Murang'a Seal, Wazito to clash in FKF-PL Playoff on Thursday

Mathare United's Kevin Kimani lying down to block free kick ground ball during FKF Premier League match against Wazito at Thika Stadium on Sunday, July 25, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The delayed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League promotion and relegation playoffs will be played on Thursday with Wazito set to host the first leg at Thika Sub County Stadium.

The playoffs were originally set to be played last week on Saturday but were rescheduled after National Super League (NSL) side Muhoroni Youth went to the Sports Dispute Tribunal to file a case forcing the playoffs to be put off.

However, on Tuesday, the tribunal allowed the matches to continue, pending the verdict of the case.

The game kicks off at 3pm with the return leg on Sunday at St Sebastien Park in Murang'a.

Wazito narrowly survived relegation after finished 16th in the FKF-PL table, while Murang'a Seal finished third in the NSL.

Muranga Seal head coach Vincent Nyaberi has expressed confidence in gaining promotion when they take on Wazito.

Speaking ahead of the match, Nyaberi who feels hard done by some decisions in the season has been gearing up for life in the Premier League and couldn't be happier with the work he and his team has done.

"I played in the Premier League and leading a team to feature in the same league would be a dream come true in my budding coaching career."

"Personally, I feel we deserved to earn automatic promotion but we have another chance of realizing this dream starting this Saturday. The boys are ready and I'm confident that we will be in the Premier League next season," Nyaberi told FKF Media.

"The fact that we will be starting away from home also gives us an advantage and we will do everything not to lose the first leg of the tie. That would give us an edge when we host the second leg."

Murang'a Seal finished third in the just National Super League with 65 points behind champions APS Bomet and Fortune Sacco respectively.

With all the hype, pomp, colour and financial muscle that characterised their grand entry into top-flight football, Wazito were reduced to a laughing stock as they grappled with a tragic combination of financial constraints and miserable results.

They wrapped up the season third from bottom after losing 18 matches of the 33 played in a season rocked by walkovers and financial constraints.

Vihiga Bullets got relegated alongside Mathare United who got demoted after dishing out three-walkovers as Tusker were crowned champions.