Mururi directs Vihiga to reap points in KPL action

Vihiga United FC player Benard Ochieng with Coach Mike Mururi against Mathare United at Camp Toyoyo Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday 16/06/18[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Tuyisenge, Kapaito and Madoya in their own fight to emerge top scorer as season ends.

Focus will be on matches involving four teams fighting to avoid relegation/promotion play-offs as curtain falls on the 2018 SportPesa Premier League season across nine different venues today.

Though bottom-placed Thika United and Wazito are already relegated, the quartet of Vihiga United (38), Chemelil Sugar (38), Nakumatt (37) and Posta Rangers (37) are not off the hook.

All the four clubs are still in the play-off mix as they are only separated by a point.

The 16th placed team will either clash with either National Super League sides Nairobi Stima or Ushuru in the two legged relegation/promotion play-offs tie.

While Nzoia Sugar will be seeking to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat to Tusker against troubled AFC Leopards in Machakos, neighbouring Vihiga will be at Ruaraka colliding with their play-off rivals Nakumatt in what is expected to be an explosive match.

Chemelil Sugar face an acid test against seventh ranked Kariobangi Sharks as struggling Posta Rangers take on Kakamega Homeboyz in Mumias.

Aware of what is ahead of him, Vihiga coach Mike Mururi has challenged his boys to fight for their lives.

“Of course Nakumatt are motivated after the two draws, but I’m pleased with the boys’ attitude and how they have been pushing themselves in training. It is my hope that we will get a positive result today,” Mururi told The Standard Sports.

“We are fighting for our lives and we need to give everything to win.  Destiny is in our own hands and we don’t to bank on anyone else’s results. We are focused and ready for the ‘mother of all finals’. The team that will be tactically superior will carry the day.”

But just like the relegation battle, the golden boot race will also go down to the wire.

Gor Mahia talisman Jacques Tuyisenge and his Kariobangi Sharks counterpart Erick Kapaito are joint level (15 goals) on top scorers’ chart with former Nzoia hit-man, who joined Zambian Super League side Power Dynamos in July.

The duo will be aiming to out-score each other and lift the prestigious individual accolade on the final day of the campaign.

The Rwandese striker is expected to lead champions Gor Mahia’s attack against resurgent Tusker in Thika, while Kapaito will be seeking to succeed his former teammate Masoud Juma when Sharks host Chemelil at Camp Toyoyo.

But third placed Zoo Kericho midfielder Michael Madoyo (14), his teammate Nicholas Kipkirui (13) and Mathare United’s ace Cliff Nyakeya (13) are also in the hunt of the golden shoe and will be hoping to finish off the season in style with their respective clubs.