Nation Reporter
6 October 2008
Nairobi — Giants Mathare United, Gor Mahia and Tusker are still nursing weekend hangover in their respective fight to either claim the Kenya Premier League title or avoid the axe at the bottom as the football season enters the home stretch.
However, Sony Sugar, Agro Chemicals, Bandari and Sher Karuturi gained maximum as they registered significant wins.
For long Mathare United have remained abreast of the opposition watching from the rooftop with an unassailable lead, as others clubs struggled to catch up.
However, the league leaders had no new tricks up their sleeves against KCB as the two Harambee Stars coaches Francis Kimanzi (Mathare United) and Yusuf Chippo (KCB) tried unsuccessfully to outwit each other.
It was Sony that reaped maximum from the bigwig's gaffe to erase any doubts about their title ambitions with their 2-0 thrashing of Thika United in what was billed as the top fixture of the weekend.
Crucially, Mathare United's high goal tally is what is keeping the two teams separated at the helm with each having gained 49 points with only six matches to go.
Mathare have netted 38 goals and conceded 20 while Sony has an inferior record of 24 goals against seven they have allowed in.
Agro Chemical cut to size Tusker coach James Nandwa's horns handing him rude welcome to the boss seat at Ruaraka with a 2-1 beating.
The win was important to the Nyanza based side on double fold. First it saw them jump up to third slot with 37 points in the standings and second, it was gained through a hard battle having been reduced to just 10 men.
Nandwa, who is yet to fit in Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee's shoes, must craft a new formula and change the mentality of his players if he is to survive to fight another season.
Tusker are just four points off the relegation zone and a two more losses might be futile in their campaign.
At 30 points Tusker risk being heaped together with relegation threatened Gor Mahia, Mahakama and Mathare Youth who are languishing at the bottom of the 16 team cadre.
Gor Mahia were stun by a Collins Shivatsi strike that gave Mwangi Kiragu a lifeline and space to breath off the choking zone.
Red Berets have now jumped up to safety on 26 points a slot above the axe. However, the K'ogelo side are back in the dark area with only 25 points.
Western Stima too are a worried lot. The Bukhungu stadium based side were in Coast and had no idea of how to swim out of problems against home side Bandari.
Western Stima were swept off the coastline by the charging Bandari with a 3-1 loss. The Kakamega side are now 12th with 26 points while Bandari move to position above them with 28.
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