Talanta inches cloer to promotion after opening nine-point NSL lead
Betika National Super League (NSL) table-toppers FC Talanta seems the surest bet to qualify to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League by virtue of opening a nine-point gap at the top of the standings.
With an average of five matches remaining to know the champion of the second tier league action, Talanta, who have garnered a massive 64 points from 33 matches, will only have themselves to blame if they fail to dine with the big boys in Kenya’s top flight league.
Curiously, this will be the second chance for Talanta coach Ken Kenyatta to take an NSL side to the “Promised Land’’ after failure to do so with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) FC in the recent past.
During a weekend that was devoid of a glut of goals, Talanta, who are destined to be the league winners, beat eighth placed APS Bomet 3-1 on Saturday to earn their 19th win of the campaign.
Hassan Muhammad’s brace and Enock Machaka’s strike pepped up Talanta who are vouching to be promoted to FKF Premier League for the first time since being formed in 2012.
However, APS Bomet were quicker off the blocks as they deservedly raced into the lead through George Onyango in the 3rd minute before running out of steam to give Talanta almost a field day.
The match served as a huge sigh of relief for Talanta who had earlier suffered an ignominious 3-0 loss to Vihiga Bullets as well as drawing 1-1 with Coast Stima.
Meanwhile, the four match winning run by Vihiga Bullets was halted following a 1-0 loss to Kisumu All-Stars.
The Kisumu side, who have now pulled a sensational second win on a trot, is now two points behind the Bullets who have two matches in hand over the former.
For all the troubles they took to win the match, All Stars have Steve Otieno to thank for the haul of maximum points after the marauding striker made a clever chip that beat Bullets goalkeeper.
This was All Stars 13th win since being demoted to the country’s second tier league.
Last week, Stars beat Nairobi Stima 3-0 to send a strong statement on their intention of returning to FKf Premier League.
Meanwhile, Kenya Police who are third in the standings continued their perfection of settling for draws with a goalless result against Murang’a Seal at St. Sebastian Park on Saturday.
Police are now on 53 points off 32 matches with the weekend result being their 14th draw of the season-
This is the same tally with 11th placed Mully Children’s Family FC who lost 3-2 to Gusii FC away at Awendo Stadium.
