Relegation Dog Fight, Top Five Battle To Crown 2018 SPL Finale

NAIROBI, Kenya- With four rounds left to round off the 2018 SportPesa Premier League (SPL), the furious battle to avoid the drop and race to finish inside the top five is at stake with Gor Mahia FC already installed as champions.

Thika United FC, Wazito FC, Chemelil Sugar FC and Vihiga United FC are mired knee deep in the frenetic fight for survival while at the other end of the spectrum, eight teams led by second-placed Bandari FC are all in the running to finish inside the top five.

According to rules set out by Football Kenya Federation, the bottom two sides will play next season in National Super League (NSL) with the 16th-placed team set to feature in a two-legged playoff with the third finishers in the second division for a ticket to be part of the 2019 SPL.

Currently, Vihiga are in pole position in the marathon to avoid relegation, sitting 15th on 31 points but are only above Chemelil on goal difference with Wazito (27) and Thika (23) completing the bottom four in that order.

Over the weekend, Thika who survived relegation last season by winning the first ever SPL/NSL play-off 2-1 on aggregate over Ushuru FC fired the first salvo in their effort to stage a great escape when they stunned Gor 1-0 at home.

Victory for Thika (23) who were lifted by a second half winner by Michael Odongo was the first since May 27, when they beat newcomers and fellow strugglers Vihiga 1-0 courtesy of an early Shami Kibwana goal.

Domestic giant

On Wednesday, the milkmen are back to face another domestic giant in the shape of seventh-placed Tusker FC (43) who are keen on salvaging an underwhelming campaign by their lofty standards for their game in hand over their direct rivals.

Two-time league winner, Robert ‘The Lion’ Matano was brought to the brewers in a caretaker role to save them from disgrace following a shameful start to the 2018 SPL under Ugandan boss, Sam Timbe who was fired barely four months into his job after two wins in 11 games.

Ex-Mathare United FC coach, Gabriel ‘Kingi’ Njoroge and his milkmen who welcome the 11-time league winners cannot expect Tusker who last lifted the SPL in 2016 to be in the same charitable mood as Gor who came to the Thika Sub-County Stadium having not trained for a week after players downed their tools.

After Tusker, Thika host Chemelil on September 27 in what could be relegation six-pointer depending on the result against Tusker, the Zoo Kericho FC (September 30) before closing a season they have only won five games thus far with a testing trip to Bandari on October 7.

Above them, Wazito’s miserable recent run continued when an Enosh Ochieng’ third minute goal for fourth-placed Ulinzi Stars FC (47) condemned them to a league-high 17th defeat of the campaign in a 0-1 reverse.

It has been a chastening introduction to the SPL for Frank Ouna’s side who, have only won twice in their last 17, the most recent a 2-1 surprise victory over third-placed AFC Leopards SC (51) at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Ouna who was part of the coaching set-up at Gor when they stormed to the 2015 crown unbeaten needs to rally his men to show the kind of fight that slayed Ingwe starting on Sunday when they host Zoo at Camp Toyoyo.

Wazito’s remaining fixtures will see them tackle Kariobangi Sharks FC away (September 26), welcome Bandari (September 30) before facing the resurgent Sony Sugar FC on closing day.

Having established itself as one of the solid mid-table side in the league, Chemelil’s 21-year stay in the top flight is in danger after a poor run that has seen them collect only seven wins (same as Wazito) from 30 games.

Reality check

As if woken up by the reality of playing in the second division, the sugar millers who have been part of the top division since 1997 shocked 2008 winners, Mathare 1-0 at their Chemelil Sugar Complex backyard on Saturday, Felix Oluoch their hero after he found the target in the first half.

To save themselves, Chemelil must force positive results in ‘sugar derby’ against Sony is next on the cards this weekend followed by Thika (September 27), a home tie against Kakamega Homeboyz FC (October 1) and a testing trip to Sharks on the final day.

Having come up as NSL champions, a lot was expected of Vihiga in the SPL and for sometime, the team appeared to have done enough to cement their status but after firing Edward Manoah who led their promotion charge, their form plummeted.

The job to secure first division football for another year is in the hands of experienced ex-Chemelil and Homeboyz head coach, Mike Mururi, who led the latter to a league high fifth finish last term.

Vihiga held Sony to a 1-1 stalemate on Sunday after rescuing themselves from defeat through Dennis Wafula who levelled matters two minutes after they fell behind to a Fredrick Onyango strike in the 58th.

Mururi and his side travel to face Posta Rangers FC on Saturday that will be followed by the visit of the champions the next weekend (September 26). Dates Sharks (September 30) and Nakumatt FC (October 7) will conclude their 2018 SPL campaign.

Bandari (55) missed out on the chance to cement second-place in their 1-1 draw at Zoo that was marred by reports of a gun being brandished at their players, opening the door for Leopards, Ulinzi (47) and Sofapaka FC (47) who round off the top five to compete to finish as runner-ups to Gor (71).

Sharks (43), Tusker (43), Mathare (42) and Homeboyz (40) who fill the sixth to ninth positions are the other teams with a good shout at vying to storm the top five at the close of the 2018 SPL.

Gor will be presented with their 2018 SPL trophy on September 30 after a mouth-watering fixture against Francis Kimanzi’s Mathare.