Three premier league teams risk being relegated as season enters home stretch
It is a race against time for three teams that are battling to evade relegation in the 2021/22 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League.
The trio including 16th placed Vihiga Bullets, Wazito in the 17th slot and tail-enders Mathare United should better pull up their socks in their remaining eight matches failure to which they shall kiss goodbye to the top-tier league and subsequently be demoted to the National Super League (NSL). Apparently, amongst the three teams which are still clutching into straws is the Bullets who pulled strings in a bid to evade the chop during a busy Easter weekend by dispatching Mathare 2-0.
Although still hanging precariously in the danger zone, Wazito also gave a good account of themselves when they salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw with tenth-placed AFC Leopards who are heaving and puffing at least to wind up in the top ten positions after the end of the action.
In the meantime, Nzoia Sugar and Ulinzi Stars could also find themselves among the teams facing banishment unless they work hard to haul themselves from the oddity of being placed in the 14th and 15th positions respectively in the chart.
Ulinzi’s woes were worsened when they fell to Nairobi City Stars 1-0 and for a team that is yet to register a win in the last six outings, such statistics are bound to worry them and especially given that it is one of the most successful teams in the league with four titles to their name.
Other teams above Ulinzi in the league’s pecking order including Nzoia Sugar and Kenya Police who also need to burn the midnight oil to avoid drifting in the dreaded zone.
Ulinzi’s misfortunes
During Ulinzi’s misfortunes at the weekend, second-half substitute Oliver Maloba scored an 85th-minute goal to hand City Stars a 1-0 win over the battle-hardened hosts in Ruaraka, a result which gave Simba wa Nairobi a big chance of overtaking Tusker who are entrenched in the second position behind red-hot title contenders Kakamega Homeboyz.
Maloba, who replaced Charles ‘’Chale’’ Otieno at the onset of the second half, ran into space to receive a sublime pass from Ezekiel Odera to fire home past an onrushing James Saruni for the deciding goal, his second of the season.
