FKFPL: Eyes on relegation survival battle after Gor Mahia seal title

Gor Mahia sealing a record 21st league title during Round 31 fixtures may have reduced the excitement of following the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season, but as already relegated Nzoia Sugar proved on Friday with a shock 3-1 win away to Ulinzi Stars, the league still has some sumptuous fixtures remaining, particularly those involving teams playing to survive relegation.

Nzoia Sugar, playing for nothing but pride, notched their fifth win of the season at the Ulinzi Sports Complex against an Ulinzi Stars side that still has all to play for, seeing that the Soldiers, despite being seven points and three places above the relegation zone at 13^th place, are not entirely safe from being candidates to suffer the drop to the FKF National Super League last season.

The win also saw Nzoia Sugar complete the double over Ulinzi Stars, having defeated the Soldiers 2-1 in the first leg.

If Nzoia Sugar's performance yesterday teaches us anything, it's that even seemingly meaningless games merit attention. Hopefully, the teams competing in Round 31 and the remaining two matchdays will follow Nzoia Sugar's lead and play for the pride of the colours they defend.

However, for the relegation-threatened quartet of Sofapaka (14^th with 32 points), Talanta (15^th with 31 points), Shabana (16^th with 29 points), and Muhoroni Youth (17^th with 28 points), there is no need to remind them that the stakes are high for them in the remaining matches.

On Saturday, Sofapaka will have their eyes on the proceedings at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, where Shabana will host the AFC Leopards in a 3-pm kick-off and the relegation six-pointer match pitting Muhoroni Youth and Talanta, which will kick-off at 3 pm at Muhoroni Stadium.

Batoto Ba Mungu, who play Gor Mahia on Sunday at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos in a televised 3-pm kick-off, will have an advantage because they will go into their match against the league champions knowing which result will give them a huge boost towards guaranteeing their presence in the top flight next season.

Unfortunately, all TV cameras will be at the Police Sacco Stadium and the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos to broadcast matches that no longer have any bearing on the outcome of the league title or the relegation survival battle.

`The four-goal spectacle in the Ulinzi Stars-Nzoia Sugar match on Friday has left FKF PL fans hopeful that the four dead rubber matches, which have been given prominence for TV screening, will provide enough excitement to keep fans glued to their TV screens.

FKFPL Round 32 Fixtures

At the Police Sacco Stadium, Nairobi City Stars (5^th with 48 points) will host Kakamega Homeboyz (9^th with 44 points) in a 1-pm kick-off before giving way to the 4-pm kick-off featuring hosts KCB (11^th with 40 points) and their visitors Posta Rangers (7^th with 46 points).

Bidco United (10th with 44 points) in Machakos will host the Kariobangi Sharks (8th with 44 points) in a 1-pm kick-off as the curtain-raiser for the 4-pm kick-off match between Tusker (2nd with 56 points) and Bandari (4th with 48 points).

Other than Sofapaka vs. Gor Mahia, Sunday will also see Murang’a Seal (12^th with 37 points) welcoming Kenya Police (3^rd with 54 points) at Sebastian Park in Murang’a in a 3-pm kick-off.

With quick turnarounds between their Round 32 and Round 33 fixtures, as well as between the penultimate round (Round 33) and the season finale (Round 34), it goes without saying that Round 32 will set the tone for the most crucial week of the season for the teams with something to play for. The league is back after a four-week break, and with enough time for rest and relaxation, teams have little reason to not hit the ground running. Only time will tell which clubs used the one-month break productively.