It Boils Down To This: Beat Vihiga And History-Chasing Gor Are SPL Champions

NAIROBI, Kenya- Football has a funny way of throwing ironic scripts and on Wednesday afternoon, one will play out at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos when SportPesa Premier League (SPL) holders Gor Mahia FC take on Vihiga United FC.

Victory for the log leaders will see them crowned three-peat SPL champions to extend their record to 18 in the all time list, six above bitter rivals AFC Leopards SC who were thumped 3-1 by last Sunday in the latest Mashemeji Derby.

A loss for Vihiga, the team from Western Kenya will bring them ever closer to the end of their two-year stay in the SPL and when the final whistle goes at Machakos, if all goes according to the script, the contrast in emotions will be as telling as any in the dying embers of a football season. 

Gor are at the summit of the SPL standings on 69 points with three games left and victory over Vihiga means closest rivals Bandari (61) can no longer upstage their tally since the champions will reach 72 against a possible 70 for the dockers.

For their opponents Vihiga (25), who are currently in 17th on the table, defeat for them will see them on the precipice of  joining already relegated Mt. Kenya United FC in the second tier National Super League.

Hassan Oktay and his men who have braved a mixed season of highs and lows will go into the match brimming with confidence after swatting aside Leopards SC on Sunday, in what was a statement of mean intent as far as their title ambitions went.

With one hand on the SPL title already, Gor continue to tighten the grip they have on Kenyan football with a win over their struggling opponents earning them a sixth title in the last seven seasons.

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Another title party for Gor could spell the glorious end of some of their stars including captain Harun Shakava, record signing and Rwandese forward Jacques Tuyisenge and Harambee Stars international Francis Kahata who are rumoured to be nearing the door marked exit at the glamour club.

Despite the weight of the assumptions, a record-extending 18th league crown will be a perfect send off for the trio who have been instrumental to recent dominance.

Elsewhere, Francis Kimanzi’s Mathare United FC (50) have the chance to hop back into the top five on Wednesday when they take on second-place Bandari as they seek to close out the season in emphatic fashion.

It will not be an easy task for the slum boys as they attempt to halt Bandari’s four-match winning streak at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi bearing in mind Kimanzi and his charges have been left to rue another collapsed title challenge having led the SPL charts for weeks at the start of the 2018/19 season.

The dockers coach Bernard Mwalala recently threw in the towel on the SPL title and conceded that the best his team can achieve is matching last season's best-ever finish in the top flight, second place as they look forward to close their campaign by lifting the SportPesa Shield Cup on June 1.

The Dockers will face holders Kariobangi Sharks FC who have hit a bump in form in recent week in the showpiece final at MISC Kasarani where the winner will earn a ticket to represent Kenya at next season's CAF Confederations Cup.

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Sofapaka FC (57), who held on to the second spot for six weeks before falling off and slipping to third on the back of two wins in their last five are another team out to end the season on a high.

They will be the first team in action on Wednesday when they battle it out against Chemelil Sugar FC (30), who need at least a point to guarantee their safety and extend their SPL stay.

Sofapaka have to rediscover the focus they have maintained for the better part of the season if they are to achieve a top-three finish, with difficult games against Bandari and fourth placed Kakamega Homeboyz FC left for them to play.

Homeboyz (52) are tied with Sony Sugar FC but boast a better goal difference, hence them being numerically one spot ahead of them on the table.

Both sides will go head to head tomorrow in a match that has the billing to be one for the books as Sony continue to seek their target of a top five SPL finish.

Homeboyz captain Allan Wanga leads the SPL Golden Boot list with 18 goals and has to maintain his scoring form if he is to clinch the award ahead of Umaru Kasumba (17) and Enosh Ochieng’ (16).

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Ochieng’ will be looking to extend his goal tally against Kariobangi Sharks FC (38) when Ulinzi Stars FC (40) host them at the Afraha Stadium.

Ulinzi have not won in their last three matches and risk dropping out of the top 10 into as low as 12th if they fail to get all three points on Wednesday.

The other team battling relegation and need a positive result to maintain hope of retaining their SPL status is struggling Zoo FC (28), who have only won five matches in 2019.

They will be playing away at seventh-placed Tusker FC (49), with the brewers going for the win in order to stay on course to achieve their top-five target for this campaign.

Sofapaka FC vs Chemelil Sugar FC – 2pm – Kenyatta Stadium

Mathare United FC vs Bandari FC – Kasarani Stadium

Ulinzi Stars FC vs Kariobangi Sharks FC – Afraha Stadium

Nzoia Sugar FC vs KCB FC – Sudi Stadium

Western Stima FC vs Posta Rangers FC – Moi Stadium

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Kakamega Homeboyz FC vs Sony Sugar FC – Bukhungu Stadium

Gor Mahia FC vs Vihiga United FC – 4:15pm - Kenyatta Stadium

AFC Leopards SC vs Mt. Kenya United FC – Kenyatta Stadium

Tusker FC vs Zoo FC – Ruaraka Stadium