Sammy Kitula
2 November 2009
Nairobi — Five hundred words to sum up this season's Kenyan Premier League would be sufficient only if five hundred adjectives are picked and listed one after another.
Unfortunately, that would be really boring, so instead I've decided to focus on the exploits of three teams who have throughout the season thrilled us.
Just when it seemed as though the 2009 Premier League title race had been prematurely settled, a sudden surge of form from Mathare United, combined with successive draws for Sofapaka, have opened things up again.
At the beginning of the season, Western Stima sat comfortably at the top of the table after just three matches, making a flying start to life in the big time.
They were playing with an abundance of verve and confidence, and looked set to challenge for a champions league slot.
Attractive football
Until, that is, all those qualities abandoned them as they went into freefall and the Stima fans soon found out that all good things come to an end.
A fall from grace the likes of which has never before been seen and that can only be described as remarkable.
Every action has its opposite though, and in many ways Western Stima's fall was mirrored by Sofapaka's rise.
Big things were expected at the start of the season as the league debutants had splashed the cash, most noticeably on Francis Chinjili, the former Harambee Stars striker.
Sofapaka's head coach, Robert Matano, set the tone for their season, and instilled them with the confidence to play attractive football and climb the table, where they will hope to secure the KPL trophy, with a champions league slot to boot, this weekend.
Matano has had to utilise every member of his talented squad, including impressive youngsters like Bob Mugalia, Evans Wandera, and John Baraza (league's top scorer-13 goals) to punch above their financial weight, and will be the first to admit that such success in the face of such adversity was improbable and unexpected.
Fighting for survival
"For sure, it has not been an easy ride and as we go to our final two matches, we hope to maintain our form and finish at the top. This was our first time in the premier league and to win it will be a good Christmas present," noted Matano.
Of course Sofapaka have the title to lose, and will take most of the headlines, but I hope that need not be the case. It's not all about what happens at the top of the table, because right the way down the league there is excitement and entertainment.
The final weekend of the season is proof that, as the top four teams will be going through the motions, those at the bottom will be fighting for survival as none of the four are assured of safety come November 21.
Despite all the hot air coming out of Mathare United since their spectacular results, however, it is still Sofapaka who have a six-point lead with two games to go and they remain strong favourites to win the title on their maiden appearance.
So next season, don't just back a winner, pick a fighter and it'll be much more interesting.
Weekend results: Thika United 1 Sher Karuturi 0, Nairobi City Stars 1 Agrochemicals 1, Western Stima 0 Sofapaka 0, Bandari2 Gor Mahia 1, Sony Sugar 4 Tusker 3, AFC Leopards 2 Red Berets 1, Ulinzi Stars 1 Mathare United 1.
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