Sammy Kitula
30 October 2009
Nairobi — Seven matches are lined up on Saturday as the 2009 Kenyan Premier League season comes to an end in a fortnight.
While this year's title is within Sofapaka's reach, focus will be on the four teams at the bottom of the 16-team table.
Agrochemicals' lack of character, rumours of revolt at Bandari and others on the slide means that poor form across the board is keeping the relegation battle open.
The race to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season is still wide open, mainly because none of the contenders have been able to put together any decent results in the last few weeks.
Even AFC Leopards still have an outside chance of staying up, due to the poor form of those immediately below them.
"Yes, we have been having hard times in our matches, but we are happy with our position at the moment. However, the remaining three matches will be very important to every one in the table, regardless of their ranking," said Leopards' head coach, Nick Yakhama.
Indeed, despite being bottom of the pile and five points away from safety, Bandari's confidence is probably higher than that of their rivals.
Seem to lack ambition
Having been there so long they are no longer fazed by it, whereas teams like Red Berets and Agrochemicals who would never have expected to be in this position, are now suddenly staring relegation in the face.
However, it's still difficult to see Agro escaping. They have been criticised for trying to play 'pretty' football, but it's not their style of play that has cost them - they simply don't have enough quality players.
Their desire to avoid spending is admirable, but had they taken a few more risks in the transfer market, they would probably be in a stronger position.
And now they'll have to go past Nairobi City Stars (in the sixth position) on Saturday at the Hope Centre, if they harbour any hopes of surviving the chop.
To survive they must win all three remaining matches, and hope Leopards, Berets and Bandari falter.
Bandari, currently one point ahead of Agro in 15th, give the impression that they have somewhat taken their top-flight status for granted. They seem to lack ambition or direction, and have ended up drifting into the bottom three for the last four months.
Bandari's head coach Yufuf Chipo seems a little too low-key for a relegation battle, unable to either fire up his players or exude the calm authority of someone like Robert Matano.
His team, who welcome Gor Mahia to their yard on Saturday, has not been returning the desired results, posting only three wins since their 2-0 win over Leopards on July 4.
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