KPL title race takes shape

Sofapaka FC forward Promise Chinonso (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Gor Mahia FC during their Kenyan Premier League match at Narok stadium on February 08, 2020. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

Gor Mahia’s slip up throws the title contest wide open as Tusker, Homeboyz close in.

With less than fourteen rounds remaining and three points separating champions Gor Mahia and their closest rivals Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz, an intriguing Kenyan Premier League’s title race is taking shape.

Though Gor are still sitting at the summit with 44 points and appears as favourites to claim their fourth consecutive and record extending 19th title, the battle is far from over after they slipped up over the weekend.

K’Ogalo suffered their third defeat of the season when they lost 3-1 to Sofapaka in Narok, a result that appears to have given the likes of joint second-placed Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz renewed hope of challenging for the title.

While Homeboyz were held to a 1-1 draw by Bandari in Mombasa, it is the brewers who fully capitalised on their rivals’ misfortunes on Saturday to beat AFC Leopards 1-0 the following day in Nakuru.

With the victory, Tusker strongly got themselves back into title contention as they leapfrogged Homeboyz into the second place courtesy of a better goal difference and narrowed the gap on leaders Gor Mahia to three points.

Fourth-placed KCB (38) and fifth ranked Ulinzi Stars (36) are also still in the mix despite their contrasting results at the weekend. The bankers lost 1-0 to Kariobangi Sharks, while Ulinzi were forced to a a 1-1 draw by struggling Nzoia Sugar.

According to on-form striker Timothy Otieno, whose eleventh goal of the campaign in Nakuru helped the brewers extend their unbeaten run to thirteen games, they are closely monitoring K’Ogalo with the aim of dislodging them at the summit if they continue slipping up.

“The battle has just started and there is no room for error. We are now strongly back into the title race and we are going to take each of the remaining matches like a final. We are just waiting for them (Gor Mahia) to make mistakes again and we will be there,” Otieno told Standard Sports.

Even though Gor coach Steven Polack blamed wasted chances in the game that made them lose grip on their title race, he is not giving up.

“Sofapaka scored three goals and we didn’t. We got our chances, hit the post but it seems it wasn’t our day. All the same congratulations to Sofapaka they scored the goals and we didn’t. Our focus now is on the next game,” said Polack.

But for AFC Leopards interim coach Anthony Kimani, whose side is ten points behind leaders Gor, they will hope that the leading teams collapse.

“We are not at all out of the title race. We may have lost to Tusker, but I think the race is still far from over. The nature of football is that things can change very quickly,” said Kimani.

“Nobody is giving up yet. We know ten points is a gap that can be reduced. We are going to try our best to ensure we get the maximum points in the remaining matches, then see where we will be at the end of the season.”

Just like at the top, the relegation battle is heating up with teams on the bottom half of the table pulling off upsets.

Rejuvenated Chemelil Sugar registered their second win of the season after beating visiting Posta Rangers to take their points tally to nine, three behind 15th-placed Nzoia Sugar who held Ulinzi Stars to a 1-1 draw in Bungoma.

“Honestly speaking, all is not well and I’m really worried with our current position in the league. But we will keep on fighting until the end of the season,” said Nzoia coach Collins Omondi.

Stewart Hall was also a relieved man after his Wazito side saw off a resilient Western Stima 2-1 to dislodge Zoo (15) into the 13th spot on a better goal difference.