Season’s title race too close to call

PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH A fan of AFC Leopards celebrates in Nakuru after her team beat Muhoroni Youth 2-1 at Afraha Stadium to rise to second in the Tusker Premier League standings with 48 points. Champions Tusker FC lead the race with 51 points.

What you need to know:

  • Defending champions Tusker FC lead the log with 51 points, although they are far from being home and dry in the title race, with AFC Leopards just three points behind them
  • In the past five seasons, last year’s title race was the closest. Ulinzi Stars were denied a chance to defend their title after Tusker beat them to the diadem by only a point
  • Leopards were spectacular in their 2-1 win against Muhoroni Youth on Sunday in Nakuru and can’t be ruled out of the title

With only four rounds of matches left to the end of the Tusker Premier League, the battle for the title and the race against relegation is getting tougher if last weekend’s results are anything to go by.

Defending champions Tusker FC lead the log with 51 points, although they are far from being home and dry in the title race, with AFC Leopards just three points behind them.

Gor Mahia, who play Rangers FC on Wednesday at the Nyayo National Stadium, are also strongly in the race for the title and, should they collect maximum points in the 7pm encounter, K’Ogalo will occupy the second slot and will be two points adrift of the brewers.

The premier league title challenge has always been a close call. Since 2007 when champions Tusker FC won the league title with 59 points, three better than runners-up Mathare United, the final rounds of league matches have seen fierce battle.

Since the 2007 season, the battle for supremacy has seen the winning team take the title with four points better than the runners-up.

Four points has also been the widest margin between the winners and runners-up in subsequent seasons.

In the past five seasons, last year’s title race was the closest. Ulinzi Stars were denied a chance to defend their title after Tusker beat them to the diadem by only a point.

No breathing space

And looking at the current league standings and imperious form of the top five clubs, it appears there will be no breathing space again this season.

Interestingly, the opinions of the head coaches of the top teams seem to be in direct contrast to the performances of their teams.

Whereas Sofapaka FC coach Steward Hall was speaking with conviction, his team didn’t reflect the same attitude on the pitch when they were held to a barren draw by a beleaguered Oserian FC on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Likewise, while Tusker tactician Robert Matano was hesitant and equivocal, his side was full of self-belief as they came from behind to snatch a deserved 2-1 win over Thika United and with it, got back some confidence in their title defence as they lead the log with a three-point margin.

It’s funny how psychology and momentum can at times work in these races. Looking at how charged the top quintet is, it would not be a far-fetched idea to say the title race can witness a 180-degree turn as there are only nine points between leaders Tusker and fifth-placed Thika United.

“Anything can happen. In a league, you don’t lose hope until the final game. This is more of a marathon and as things stand, any (of the top five) team can lift the title next month,” Matano said after his side’s win on Sunday.

With well under 360 minutes of football left for each of the 16 teams going into this weekend’s matches, previously, one would have thought Ulinzi would have the assurance and sense of mission to achieve the victories they really need.

Blowing hot and cold

However the soldiers, who were winners in 2010 and who finished second last year, have been blowing hot and cold in the past six league matches.

And the manner in which their defence was torn into shreds by Mathare United on Saturday suddenly creates a lot of doubt, considering that they face AFC Leopards in their next fixture.

Leopards were spectacular in their 2-1 win against Muhoroni Youth on Sunday in Nakuru and can’t be ruled out of the title.