Nairobi — With the second last international break on the horizon, the Kenyan Premier League has only six matches left before the league comes to an end on November 21.

By this time last year, the battle was almost decided at both ends, but looking at all the 16 teams in the country's top league, and going by the most recent set of results, brings one to ask: "So what does it all mean?"

To begin with, it's going to be an open title race.

Only 10 points divide the first four teams.

Sofapaka lead the 16-team log with 48 points, five better than Tusker, while champions, Mathare United, are third with 40.

Thika United are in the fourth slot on 38 points.

And with only six matches left, surely, any of these four teams can win the title, no matter how remote it may seem to some.

Pre-season money was on Western Stima flexing their strength in depth, but they've looked lackluster so far.

The same can also be said of champions, Mathare United. Their normally deadly strikers and substitutes have been entirely hit and miss.

Somehow, a 2-1 away win over Chemilil Sugar in Chemilil still felt unconvincing for the slum boys.

However, they keep on winning.

They beat Thika United 1-0 and Sony Sugar 2-0 last month at Nyayo National Stadium but their usual strings of passes were missing but after all, it's better to win ugly than to not win at all.

When it comes to dutifully picking up points, nobody is better than league rookies Sofapaka.

They've chalked up a near 100 percent record thus far, loosing twice in 24 matches, though some doubts remain.

Players like Patrick Kagogo, league's top scorer John Baraza and Bob Mugalia appear to have undergone a resurgence with Robert Matano at the helm.

"This is a battle we must win. Six matches may seem few to many people, but I know they will be one of the most difficult matches of the league since every team will be dying to bag points," said Sofapaka's head coach, Robert Matano.

A 1-0 win over United on Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium continued to pad their resume, but can they keep this pace up when they face Nairobi City Stars on Sunday at the same venue?

Creeping closer to the fourth place is Gor Mahia, who are, certainly, a surprise for some.

Gideon Ochieng appears to have the Midas' touch, turning a team around in less than a year that famously started the season winless and through two coaches, Raphael Auka and James Siang'a.

Turning to Sofapaka's big-spending ways, it seems to have paid dividends, as they keep collecting points that come their way.

At some point, they were relying on Kagogo for goals, although any team that's reliant on a sole striker should proceed with caution, and they did just that, signing international Baraza from Chemilil.

Life will be a bit harder elsewhere, namely for Francis Kimanzi and James Nandwa.

First up, Kimanzi saw Mathare's charge at the title interrupted by their 0-1 result at Nyayo to Sofapaka this past weekend.

Compounding the frustration was the fact that he will be missing the services of arguably Kenya's current best central defender in Edgar Ochieng'.

Ochieng' will be crucially missed for the defending champions in the second weekend running as he serves out a two-match yellow cards ban.

Last week, his absence forced Kimanzi to start with an untried defence and we all know the results.

Mathare have looked sharp so far, but a rather unfortunate result after an otherwise brilliant display this past weekend could put Kimanzi and his charges in some discomfort during this home straight.

Then comes Nandwa. What can really be said about his team's start to the season?

A 2-1 win over Western Stima will have papered over the cracks just at the right time, but they've hardly looked convincing.

Perhaps more troublesome is Tusker's realisation that their number one goalkeeper, Boniface Oluoch, is still suspended as is Collins Okoth and Noah Abich who will also miss the next match against Gor Mahia.

Kenyan Premier League fixtures:

Saturday: KCB vs Bandari (Nyayo 1pm), Sony Sugar vs Chemelil Sugar (Awendo), Mathare United vs AFC Leopards (Nyayo).

Sunday: Gor Mahia vs Red Berets (City-Nairobi), Sofapaka vs City Stars (Nyayo), Agrochemicals vs Thika United (Muhoroni), Sher Karuturi vs Western Stima (Sher), Tusker vs Ulinzi Stars (Kasarani). All matches start at 3pm, unless stated.