Tusker Fc celebrate after beating Gor Mahia 1-0 to emerge the KPL Champions 2016 at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, Nov 19, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

 AFC LEOPARDS

Like a toothless Leopard that believes it can hunt, but cannot kill the prey so has been AFC Leopards who have over the last three years flirted with relegation yet they consider themselves giants.

Yes, giants who have stayed 19 years and counting without winning the league title.

It will take you back to 1998 when the beats of isukuti reverberated from Nyayo Stadium as the league title went to the den. Then, there was sanity in the management of AFC Leopards and the players did know the real meaning of playing for the Ingwe jersey.

They have come close to winning again, the latest being in 2013 when they finished agonisingly second behind archrivals Gor Mahia, but that is the best they have achieved since then.

Just like their name appears first in the alphabetical order, so has been their start in most league seasons, setting the pace in the first few matches but by the tenth game, they always fizzle out and end up in the mid table.

Who says what?

Dan Mule (Chairman): “This year we are speaking with one voice and we have read the riot act especially to the players who we retained, we want nothing but the title,” thundered club chairman Dan Mule.

Stewart Hall (Coach): “I know the team very well. I also know the club’s history, but my main challenge is to make the club successful again.”

MATHARE UNITED

It is nine years since Mathare United won their first and only Kenyan Premier League title.

A long wait it has been, but the slum boys have lost ground to become a mid-table side over the years despite having some of the best talent in the league.

Whenever every season starts, Mathare United is always mentioned among the contenders, yet when the season ends, they are nowhere among the top contenders.

How Mathare United have failed to turn around a plethora of talent they have and the managerial organisation into success on the pitch leaves so many questions.

That nearly a third of the top players in the Kenyan Premier League players are products of Mathare Youth Sports Association set up yet the main club cannot challenge for the league title is disturbing. Probably its poor remuneration but the talent that has come from MYSA can win Mathare United back to back titles. Yet that is not the case, instead of Mathare United picking players from their youth centres which are set up across Nairobi, they find themselves signing players who are either on the sunset of their careers or have failed elsewhere.

Last season Mathare United brought back their prodigal sons to take charge of the technical bench. Francis Kimanzi and Salim Ali took over with expectation they will bring back the old touch that had eluded the slum boys.

For a period, at least in the first ten games, Mathare was up there among the top sides, they found themselves battling for top eight positions at the end iof the season.

Its not going to be another easy season for Mathare. They have lost some of their key players among them Eric Johanna who has moved to Europe. Robinson Kamura and Wyvonne Isuza have decamped to AFC Leopards. Goalkeepers Robert Mboya and Fredrick Omondi have moved to Kariobangi Sharks.

Who says what?

Francis Kimanzi (Coach): “You know we cannot stop a player who wants to move. But at the same time it is usually difficult to rebuild every season with new players,” observed Kimanzi. Winning the league trophy is not easy. We tried that last season and started very well, but certain factors including lack of depth could not allow us to sustain our bid for the title. By the time we were heading into the second leg we realised that the bar had been set too high for us.

“This year, I just want to maintain that run, push for a position within the best eight teams in the league and then see how to build up on that in 2018.

George Owino (Captain)

“Why should I retire when my body is still willing to go on,” the 35-year-old says.

“As captain, I know what is expected of me. I must offer leadership and also guide the young players who have joined in after the exit of some of our key players.”

GOR MAHIA

Gor Mahia’s busy activity during the end season transfer window has sent a strong message of their intention to win back the league title they lost to Tusker last season.

The capture of last season’s Kenyan Premier League Most Valuable Player Kenneth Muguna from Western Stima backed by the signing of Rwandese international Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza has added steel to an otherwise weak Gor Mahia midfield which was left ineffective after the exit of Ugandan Khalid Aucho midway through last season.

That, added to their pre-season preparation training and build up matches have made them the busiest side during the period Kenyan Premier League Limited was busy bickering with the Football Kenya Federation over the constitution the league.

Gor had international friendly against Al Hilal in Sudan and Onduparaka of Uganda and despite losing both, coach Jose Marcello Ferreira “Ze Maria remains confident of a better season.

After losing his key fullback Eric Ouma who refused to renew his contract, Ze Maria has brought in new players for that role among them Maqbul Abrulkarim from Gunners and Mike Simiyu from Muhoroni Youth to fill in the position left by Ouma who was voted the new player of the season last year and also the best defender.

But it is perhaps in the midfield that there will be grand competition for the starting role. With Earnest Wendo, Amos Nondi, Francis Kahata, Collins Okoth and Godfrey Walusimbi playing key roles last season, they will have to content with the arrival of Muguna, Mugiraneza, Teddy Osok from the youth team, Joseph Ndirangu from AFC Leopards, Jeconiah Oyuga who was unattached and Joash Onyango from Western Stima. Jacques Tuyisenge and Meddie Kagere remain the strong candidates for striking position. Ze Maria says he is happy with the new inclusions.

Who says what?

Jose Marcello Ferreira “Ze Maria (Coach): “We used the matches to gel. It was not about winning but about building good chemistry especially with the new players. I do believe we now have a stronger team with much focus,” he added.

TUSKER

Tusker will be going into the season chasing their 12th Kenyan Premier League title in their history.

Thequestion, however, is if they will be able to successfully defend the title they won last season dethroning Gor Mahia who were chasing an unprecedented fourth title in a row.

It was not an easy run for the brewers, they were pushed to the final days by Gor Mahia who felt they could have won the title had they not been docked three points for crowd trouble in a match they played against Tusker.

That notwithstanding, while Tusker lacked consistency especially in the first leg, the challengers to the title -- read Gor Mahia -- did not do their course any good, dropping points they were expected to win. Ultimately, Tusker won the title but there was a general feeling across that they were escorted to it.

That is in the past, they come to the 2017 season as defending champions, but how strong are they to retain the title?

Already their ego has been bruised following their eliminationn from the Africa Champions League by a relatively unknown Mauritius side AS Port-Louis.

That has left them with the league to focus on. Just how strong will Tusker be this season?

Last season their main men were Humphrey Mieno who played a pivotal role in the midfield alongside Osborne Monday. The latter has since left for Kariobangi Sharks and while Mieno has stayed, he remains unsettled more so after his intended move to Gor Mahia was scuttled by the club.

Then there is striker Allan Wanga whose experience was vital in the push for the title.

Tusker would choke slim wins but still make away with the points with Mieno marshalling the midfield and Wanga leading the attack and Lloyd Wahome, another veteran standing tall in defence alongside captain James Situma.

WHAT THEY SAY:

George ‘Best’ Nsimbe (Coach): “I am here to win titles with Tusker. Of course that is a massive challenge, but remember Nkata came here at the start of last year and lifted the title, what makes it difficult for me?” he querried.

“The most important thing is to make my players feel the hunger of retaining the title,” he added.

James Situma (Captain): “He is a good coach and as players we will give our best to ensure that the title remains with us.”

ULINZI STARS

Ulinzi Stars go into a new season hoping to perform better than they did in the last where they finished third.

Benjamin Nyangweso, the 2010 title-winning coach is back after the soldiers parted ways with Robert Matano who did not manage the team towards the end of last season due to illness.

Nyangweso is quite aware of the expectations from the barracks and he will be out to prove a point or two.

The soldiers have not been active in the transfer window, bringing in only Baron Oketch on loan from Gor Mahia and Alex Masinde from their Under 20 side.

Basing on their performance last season, Ulinzi has what it takes to compete for the title, but Nyangweso will have to instill some confidence and winning mentality in the side.

Severally last season, Ulinzi lost or drew matches that were considered easy wins for them. It will be incumbent on Nyangweso to make his players aware that to win the league, they have to ensure they collect maximum points from the weaker sides and at the same time match the big boys.

Who says what?

Benjamin Nyangweso (Coach): “There was some inconsistency last season. We dropped points in games we could have easily won. When I look at all the top teams that I do beleive will be fighting for the title, I think we have as equal chances as them.”

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