Ushuru casualties again in breakneck promotion race

Stanley Mativo

With three rounds left before the National Super League (NSL) comes to a close, a three-pronged race for promotion places promises to make for a captivating finale.

Wazito, who lead the NSL charts on 75 points, are primed to take the title and make a swift return to the top flight after just one year away from the limelight.

But they have some close company in Kisumu All Stars and Nairobi Stima with the pair sitting just four points adrift although Ushuru FC, fourth on 67 points, could yet crash into the party.

All four teams have a chance at the cherry but of significance that for the third season in a row Ushuru will miss out on the two automatic promotion slots after capitulating in the NSL’s second leg.

The taxmen have a mathematical chance of winning the title but only with the help of an almighty collapse from those above them. It most certainly won’t happen and perhaps the close season should serve as a period for self-reflection.

Playoff Pain

Ushuru have been on the losing end of two successive Kenyan Premier League playoffs after they were defeated by Thika United in 2017 and by Mount Kenya United (formerly Nakumatt FC) last year.

Head coach Kenyatta speaking after 2-2 draw against Nairobi City Stars on Monday asked his charges to maintain consistency in their pursuit to return to KPL.

“We have three matches which are very important to us and we must win all of them if we are to finish in top three. Our dream remains to return to KPL but we will take one game at a time,” he told Citizen Digital at Camp Toyoyo.

In early January, the taxmen were leading the league after a fine rune but started losing the ground in February when they failed to win in five matches.

On January 25 they registered a barren draw against Nairobi Stima before losing 2-1 to Talanta on February 3. Then three draws followed consecutively against Kisumu All Stars, St. Joseph and Coast Stima.

In the final three matches, the team is pencilled to face Modern Coast Rangers on June 1 in Mombasa before hosting Kangemi All Stars at Camp Toyoyo four days later and then wind up their campaign against Administration Police on June 9.

For Wazito, the financially strengthened club thanks to Ricardo Badoer, the owner of Badoer investments who is their new owner and sponsor have to face inform Nairobi Stima, Talanta and St.Joseph before confirm their KPL status.