Odindo Ayieko

30 August 2010

Nairobi — With eight games to go, the race for the 2010 Kenyan Premier League title just got tighter with only four points separating the leading pack.

The four teams with realistic chances of clinching the crown - Ulinzi Stars, Tusker, Sofapaka and Gor Mahia - are locked in a tight race as this year's league heads towards a bruising finish. Ulinzi reclaimed the top spot with a 1-0 win over Thika United on Saturday, dislodging champions Sofapaka from the helm, who had stormed the summit with a tumping 3-1 midweek victory over fading Mathare United.

Sofapaka coach Sam Ssimbwa however sees the path to retaining the title looking easier. His side only has Gor Mahia to play among the top five. The rest of the champions' matches are against lowly sides. "I'm not underrating any team but our match against Gor (on September 18) will give a clear hint of where we are headed. It's a game we must win," he said.

Gor frustrated

Sofapaka have games against Chemelil (home), Western Stima (Away), Posta Rangers , Sony Sugar (both at home) Mahakama and City Stars before travelling to Thika to play Thika United. But Ulinzi want to be given due credit. "We are not holding forte for anyone. We have prepared just like Tusker or Sofapaka and Gor Mahia are for the title.

"Why should people dwell so much on other title contenders while we are the ones at the top," said Ulinzi team manager Joe Birgen. Ulinzi moved to the top with a 1-0 win over Thika United in Naivasha. K'Ogalo coach Zedekiah Otieno, who saw his side frustrated in a disappointing barren draw with Red Berets at City on Sunday, says the race will go to the wire.

"It remains tight. We had to play so many games in a short time. We did well and we have shown character. We remain on the race and we know we can win it," he said. However, it is Tusker coach James Nandwa who is even more optimistic after recovering from a dreadful start of the second leg. "Those who were writing us off beware," he said following Tusker's 3-0 victory over Western Stima in Mumias.

Relegation battle

While the battle at the top is hotting up, the same is the case at the bottom where eight teams are candidates for the chop. The difference between sixth-placed Karuturi and bottom placed Chemelil Sugar is only ten points. Just who will be relegated remains a tough question to answer as it is to tell which side will win the league title.

Nick Yakhama, the Chemelil Sugar technical director whose side have been having a torrid season, believes it's not yet over for them. "We are at the bottom, but we can rise to the top ten if we put our act together now. Eight matches are enough to do it." Chemelil played out a barren draw at home with Karuturi Sports on Sunday, while Mahakama who had shown signs of making inroads away from the relegation zone slipped down with a 0-1 loss to Posta Rangers.

"We have lost, but we will not be relegated," insisted Mahakama coach Sammy Omollo. Weekend results:City Stars 0 AFC Leopards 1Western Stima 0 Tusker FC 3Ulinzi Stars 1 Thika United 0Posta Rangers 1 Mahakama 0Sony Sugar 2 KCB 0Gor Mahia 0 Red Berets 0