Second placed KCB breathing on the neck of league leaders as campaign heads to the wire
Tusker may have long been prematurely declared the 2020/21 Betking Premier League champions and subsequently rewarded with Sh 2 million and a Africa Champions League slot, but their leadership in the top tier league is under threat from their closest challengers KCB.
The message is simple as this, If KCB beats Kariobangi Sharks on Sunday in Thika, and the bankers will regain the top seat at the expense of the unengaged Tusker who have been at the pinnacle for almost three weeks.
Such an eventuality is choreographed in the observation of KCB coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno and especially given that there are several matches which are remaining before the conclusion of the season.
‘’We have around eight matches remaining before the end of the league and it would not make any sense for us to press the panic buttons.
There is hunger and enthusiasm among my players and if they get right what I have taught them in training, there is no reason as to why we should not win this one. So far so good,” said Otieno.
Meanwhile, despite having a remote chance to defend their title, Gor Mahia have declared that they are intend on winding up among the three top teams in the season.
Placed fourth in the standings, Gor take battle to Ulinzi Stars in potential thriller at ASK Showground in Nakuru on Monday and given the soldiers battle-handedness nature, this is where K’Ogalo’s proclamation will be put into scale.
Gor coach Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo even had the audacity to tell football enthusiasts not to read too much in the team’s 2-1 defeat by Kariobangi Sharks in midweek action.
“Of course, a team can have a bad day in office and Gor is not an exception. We took a lot of positives in the defeat and can’t afford to slip further. Personally, I think we have the capacity to beat Ulinzi in our quest to achieve our objectives,” said Omollo.
And although Gor will be missing the services of influential midfielder Kenneth Muguna who is finalizing his transfer deal with moneybags Azam FC of Tanzania, the team boasts of equally inspirational players like Jules Ulimwengu, Geoffrey Ochieng’, Sydney Wahongo and Clifftone Miheso to cross the Ulinzi hurdle.
In the meantime, AFC Leopards, bruised after a 3-2 defeat by Western Stima, will be angling to vent their anger on Nzoia Sugar in yet another clash that should keep the handlers of the teams on the edge of their seats.
Against Stima, Leopards started off well but later transformed into a clueless side as the match progressed and this is a frailty coach Patrick Aussiems will be hoping to rectify against their sister club in a totally neutral venue.
In retrospect, Nzoia have been known to rise to the occasion in matches pitting them either against Gor or Leopards which is why the felines should treat the match with the seriousness it deserves.
But in Bienvenue Shaka and Elvis Rupia, Leopards boast of match-makers whose presence may come in handy against the Bungoma side which was held to a barren draw by Posta Rangers in yet another midweek game.
