Sports

Gor, Tusker likely to get shocked by ‘minnows’?

Monday, February 14th, 2022 22:42 | By
George Odhiambo of Gor Mahia FC (left) fights for the ball against Kennedy Ochieng of Mathare United during their FKF Premier League match played at Kasarani Annex, Nairobi, on January 9, 2021. PHOTO/Rodgers Ndegwa

For the last decade, the local premier league has been the domain of Gor Mahia and Tusker with the two teams enjoying the privilege of being Kenya’s emissaries in continental club competitions.

However, that is not the case at the moment; the fortunes seem to have changed in favour of less fancied sides if the current statistics in the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season are anything to go by.

The top four teams Kakamega Homeboyz, Nairobi City Stars, Kariobangi Sharks and KCB are seemingly out to stop the juggernaut and would wish to emulate Sofapaka and Ulinzi Stars who were the last rank outsiders to have won the crown in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

As it stands, the quartet who have yet to represent Kenya in the money-spinning Africa competition, are the ones in control of the top-tier league and would wish to prove that winning the league title is neither the birthright of Gor Mahia nor Tusker.

While Gor is currently placed fifth in the standings with a haul of 30 points from eighteen matches, Tusker is a point adrift in the sixth position.

And whilst it cannot be ruled out that the two shall scale the ladder to catch up with the frontrunners, they must be wary of the so-called league also-rans who are increasingly punching above their weight.

More confident

Homeboyz is currently leading the standings with 37 points from 18 matches followed by City Stars (32 points), Kariobangi Sharks (31 points)  and KCB (31 points).

Homeboyz did themselves a big favour at the weekend in as far as clinching their maiden league title is concerned when they beat relegation-threatened Mathare United 3-1 in Kasarani.

The win, one of the biggest in a weekend marked by nine matches, came as a huge relief for Homeboyz who had settled for three consecutive draws going into the fixture.

As for vastly improved City Stars, they must have been content with plucking a point in a 1-1 draw with Nzoia Sugar at the sterile hunting ground in Bungoma. 

Nzoia Sugar rallied to score an 83rd-minute goal by Joseph Mwangi to cancel out Anthony ‘’Muki’’ Kimani’s opener at the half-hour mark in one of the most entertaining matches since the season kicked off.

City Stars defensive midfielder Sven Yidah said the team’s good run in the current season is due to a good coach coupled with a confident and unchanged squad. Yidah said the three factors have led to a better approach to matches hence improved results and a better placing on the table.

 “Last season, some of the players featured in the premier league for only the first time. Now they have matured and are more confident and they know exactly what is required from them on and off the pitch,” said the Kenya Under-23 international.

In the meantime, AFC Leopards also had a fruitful weekend after beating Posta Rangers 3-1 although the Big Cats will have to do more to haul themselves from an odd 11th position in the chart.

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