FKFPL SEASON FINALE: Title glory for Gor Mahia, last chance for relegation hopefuls

The 2023-24 FKF Premier League season, a competition of highs and lows, has meandered to its eagerly anticipated climax with Gor Mahia set to ascend, yet again, to the summit of Kenyan football in a shower of confetti while the axe falls on one of the relegation-threatened trio of Muhoroni Youth, Shabana, or Sofapaka.

All matches will kick off at 3 pm as the curtain falls on the 10-month long season.

Gor Mahia will receive their league trophy, a record 21^st in the history of the competition, at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos after their match against Bidco United. It is, perhaps, unusual that Gor Mahia will be crowned champions at an away match despite winning the league with three rounds to spare but then again, with the scheduling of the final home in Round 33 on a weekday, it would have been even more awkward to award them the trophy on a Wednesday afternoon. The excitement of that momentous occasion would not have been strongly felt.

While Gor Mahia’s coronation is expected to grab attention, their match against Bidco United may not be as exciting to follow as those of; Muhoroni Youth vs Posta Rangers at the Muhoroni Stadium, Murang’a Seal vs Shabana at the Sebastian Park in Murang’a, and Sofapaka vs Nzoia Sugar at the Dandora Stadium in Nairobi.

The trio of Shabana (15^th with 35 points), Sofapaka (16^th with 33 points), and Muhoroni Youth (17^th with 31 points) will be fighting to preserve their top flight status. With 18^th-placed Nzoia Sugar already relegated after eight seasons in the top flight, the three clubs will be fighting hard to avoid being the unfortunate club that will finish the day in 17^th place.

For Muhoroni Youth, in particular, victory may not be enough for them to end the day with a sigh of relief. The Kisumu-based club cannot finished higher than 16^th, a rank which only gives temporary reprieve as the club that finishes in that position will have to negotiate a promotion-relegation play-off against the team that will finish third in the 2023-24 FKF National Super League season.

Muhoroni Youth’s survival relies heavily on them winning their match and hoping that Sofapaka lose to Nzoia Sugar. Muhoroni Youth has cultivated a reputation of being the phoenix of Kenyan football and, their tendency to rise from the ashes as witnessed how they mysteriously made their way to the top flight on two occasions as well as surviving relegation in the most miraculous ways will be tested strongly on Sunday.

For Sofapaka as well, victory may not be enough to pull them out of 16^th place if Shabana also wins their match against Murang’a Seal or secures a draw that cannot be overturned by Sofapaka defeating Nzoia Sugar 8-0.

On their part, Shabana only needs to avoid defeat against Murang’a Seal and in the event that they draw against them, hope that Sofapaka do not defeat Nzoia Sugar by eight or more goals. On a day when crazy things are known to happen, Shabana will be hoping for a normal day as that will see them live to fight another day in the top flight.

The day’s other fixtures have nothing much going on about them other than teams just playing for pride.

KCB (11^th with 42 points) will host Nairobi City Stars (4^th with 50 points) at the Utalii Grounds in a match that brings together two teams that have won only once in their last five league games.

At the Ulinzi Sports Complex, the match between Ulinzi Stars (12^th with 39 points) and AFC Leopards (6^th with 48 points) will just be a formality as it has been robbed of the excitement and intensity of yore when both teams used to scramble for positions higher up the league standings.

Tusker vs Kakamega Homeboyz at the Ruaraka Grounds may seem like a dull affair on paper but recent encounters between the two clubs on and off the pitch have fueled a rivalry that will make their Sunday clash a fiercely-contested match. Adding to their dramatic chase of the annulled 2021-22 FKF Premier League season title, the two clubs have been involved in disputes over players in the recent past and last year, Abana Abeingo defeated the alemen in the FKF Cup final before eliminating them from this year’s tournament at the Round of 16.

The fact that Kakamega Homeboyz (7^th with 48 points) also won 2-1 against the brewers during their first leg encounter, it goes without saying that Tusker (2^nd with 62 points) will want to end the season with their pride intact and will strive for a victory in their last home game of the season.

With the golden boot at stake, the match between Kenya Police (3^rd with 56 points) and Kariobangi Sharks (8^th with 48 points) at the Police Sacco Stadium will sure serve some excitement as Kenya Police’s Tito Okello (16 goals) and Kariobangi Shark’s John Makwatta (15 goals) give one last try to snatch the topscorer’s award from Gor Mahia’s Benson Omalla (17 goals), who will be equally motivated to bang in some goals against Bidco United.

At the Kasarani Annex, Talanta (14^th with 37 points) will host Bandari (5^th with 49 points) in a match that would have been more relevant if it was being played during the KECOSO Championships. With Talanta having already survived relegation following an impressive 4-2 win over Gor Mahia in Round 33 and Bandari having forgotten how to win a match having gone nine matches without a victory, it probably follows that the two teams will only be taking to the pitch just for the sake of honouring the fixtures.

Today’s fixtures. All games kick off at 3 PM

Sofapaka FC vs. Nzoia Sugar FC-Dandora Stadium

Bidco United vs. Gor Mahia-Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos

Muhoroni Youth vs. Posta Rangers-Muhoroni Stadium

KCB FC vs. Nairobi City Stars- Utalii Grounds

Ulinzi Stars vs AFC Leopards-Ulinzi Sports Complex

Murang’a Seal vs. Shabana FC-St. Sebastian Park

Tusker FC vs. Kakamega Homeboyz-Ruaraka Grounds

Kenya Police FC vs. Kariobangi Sharks-Police Sacco Grounds

FC Talanta vs. Bandari FC-Kasarani Annex