KPL title race tightens as Tusker, Mathare falter

The race for the Kenya Premier League (KPL) title tightened over the weekend with Gor Mahia the only team in the top three to collect maximum points to move to within three of leaders Tusker FC who faltered for a second successive outing.

Defender Harun Shakava and returning midfielder; Collins ‘Gatusso’ Okoth were the unlikely heroes for the champions with their much-hyped forward line of Jacques Tuyisenge, Meddie Kagere, Baron Oketch and Enock Agwanda failing to spark once again.

Tuyisenge, the club’s top scorer on eight, had started to find his rhythm by scoring a brace against Thika in the opening game of the second leg but has since gone three without finding the net.

His goal drought has coincided with the return of former Rwandan international Kagere and questions are being raised whether their partnership can flourish.

Ugandan-born Kagere had a stellar season last year bagging 13 goals in 30 games before parting ways with the Green Army but has so far scored once in the three matches he has played.

The 15-time champions sit second on 34 points, three adrift of Tusker who dropped points after coming from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw with bottom club Sofapaka in the Machakos Derby.

Mathare United have found the going tough, dropping from second to fourth level on points with Ulinzi Stars after their humbling 2-0 defeat to struggling Thika United.

Their recent slump has seen them pick a paltry four points from their last four fixtures in a run that has cooled their title challenge.

AFC Leopards on the other hand are enjoying a mini resurgence; picking seven from their last three games and their fans are hoping Sunday’s elections signal good tidings for the club whose performances declined during the first half of the season.

KPL top scorer Wycliffe Ochomo extended his tally to 12 over the weekend scoring his team’s solitary goal as they lost 2-1 to Bandari with both teams finishing the match with ten men.

Ochomo saw red for the second time this season after assaulting the Bandari’s team doctor, who was attending to an injured player.

John Makwatta scored a hat trick against Ushuru to collect the three points for the soldiers in a 3-2 victory in Nakuru that saw Ulinzi reduced to ten men in the first half.

The midfielder has now scored 11 for his team and is among the hot favourites to land the Golden Boot at the end of the season.