Stima lose ground as fight for promotion intensifies in NSL

The fight for promotion to the Kenyan Premier League is gathering pace in earnest in the second-tier National Super League, with four  teams eyeing the slots.

Leaders Western Stima on 36 points, are feeling the heat as Ushuru(35 points), Nairobi Stima (34) and Kenyan Commercial Bank(KCB) on 33 points –  all show the genuine desire of claiming the top two automatic promotion slots.

So tight is the battle for supremacy that neither team can afford to drop points, but with the league leaders enduring a poor run of form, expect anything to come by the end of the season.

With just one point separating the top four placed teams, leaders Western Stima have every reason to worry.

Just two weeks ago, one would have been tempted to make a prognosis, if need arose, on who is likely to be promoted, but after the weekend matches, there has been massive shifts occasioned by the weekend results so much so that all teams must be alert.

Ushuru FC who were not among the top six teams three weeks ago have made major grounds jumping to position two on 35 points after a resounding 3-0 win over bottom placed Nakuru All Stars on Saturday. This was the tax men’s fifth win in their last six matches; the other being a draw.

With their new found momentum, Ushuru will head into next weekend’s match against struggling Administration Police knowing that a win will be enough to overtake Western Stima at the top of the standings if the latter fails to win its weekend fixture.

KCB, despite their slender 1-0 win against FC Talanta on Friday dropped to position four in the standings with Nairobi Stima overtaking them in the third place, having also registered a 3-1 away win at Karuturi grounds against Kenya Police.

Stima, currently the inform team in the division having won five and drawn three in their last eight matches, will however, have a real test in their next outing when they welcome former Kenya Premier League boys Nairobi City Stars who registered a hard fought 3-2 win against Coast Stima at the weekend.

City Stars, Kenya Police and Bidco United– are all locked on 28 points in the middle of the table, with Bidco enjoying a superior goal difference.

Elsewhere, at the bottom of the table, it has been a turbulent and disastrous season for G.F.E 105 who are still struggling to turn things around, with a relegation threat looking real.

Having registered only one win in 18 matches, suffering another defeat at the hands of Kangemi All Stars on Friday last week, the club will need miracles if they are to evade the dreaded relegation chop.

Weekend Results

Kangemi All Stars 2 -0 G.F.E

Kenya Police 1-3 Nairobi Stima

KCB 1- 0 FC Talanta

Nairobi City Stars 3-2 Coast Stima

Isbania 0-4 Bidco United

Ushuru FC 3 -0  Nakuru All Stars

Kisumu All Stars 0 -0 Green Commandos

Kibera Black Stars 1 -1 St Joseph

Modern Coast Rangers 2-1  Adminstration Police