Race for promotion reaches penultimate stage

By  Vincent Opiyo, SJ

What you need to know:

  • The promotion race to next season's SportPesa Premier League (SPL) continues on Sunday with six matches lined up in the National Super League's penultimate leg.
  • The battle is clearly between the quartet of Ushuru, Vihiga United, Wazito and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), who are separated by two points at the helm, with two matches to the end of the current season.
  • Ushuru, who sit top on 75 points, face already relegated Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOSCA) in an early kick-off at the Camp Toyoyo grounds.

The promotion race to next season's SportPesa Premier League (SPL) continues on Sunday with six matches lined up in the National Super League's penultimate leg.

The battle is clearly between the quartet of Ushuru, Vihiga United, Wazito and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), who are separated by two points at the helm, with two matches to the end of the current season.

The top two teams at the end of the campaign are assured of a place in next season's top flight league.

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Ushuru, who sit top on 75 points, face already relegated Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOSCA) in an early kick-off at the Camp Toyoyo grounds.

MOSCA coach Kisco Kariuki has warned neighbours Ushuru to expect a rough ride even though their fate is already sealed.

“We want to win all our remaining games, never mind about our position, we’ve been playing well and Ushuru knows it. It won’t be an easy match for them should my boys wake up on the right foot. We attribute our going down to bad luck because we are always positive in all games but at times, results don’t go our way,” Kisco, a civil servant at the ministry, told Nation Sport on Friday.

“Our objective is to market our boys in such big matches. The ministry has been supportive despite a few financial hitches here and there, but we hope they continue offering more as has been the norm since 1993,” added Kisco, whose team sits bottom of the log with a paltry 15 points from 33 rounds.

Relegation threatened Administration Police host Makini Schools' sponsored Palos in the second match at the same venue, before another do-or-die clash pitting third placed Wazito and 10th placed Kibera Black Stars.

“Wazito must win the game to keep their promotion chances high but on the other hand, we also want points to finish in a respectable position. We will be calm, ease pressure and utilise our moments when necessary,” said Black Stars tactician Godfrey Oduor.

The Kibera-based outfit have amassed 42 points, 32 adrift their opponents.

FIXTURES

Ushuru v MOSCA (Camp Toyoyo, 11am)

Bidco United v Vihiga United (Thika Sub-County Stadium, 3pm)

Administration Police v Palos (Camp Toyoyo, 2pm)

Wazito v Kibera Black Stars (Camp Toyoyo, 4.15pm)

St Joseph v KCB (Afraha Stadium, 3pm)

Nairobi Stima v Talanta (Karuturi grounds, 3pm)

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