Fortune Sacco not giving up on FKF PL promotion

Nairobi United have already sealed one of the two automatic places of promotion to the top tier league and Odero is confident they can attain their top three finish target.

The top two teams are promoted to the Premier League, while the third ranked team takes part in a promotion/relegation playoff with the 16th placed team in the topflight league.

Fortune Sacco are currently placed fifth in the NSL standings on 51 points after 31 matches and a win against Mombasa Stars on Saturday will see the Kirinyaga-based outfit climb to third place, leapfrogging both Darajani Gogo and Naivas, who are level on 53 points.

With four matches remaining after Saturday—two at home and two away—Odero believes Fortune Sacco has a realistic chance of clinching a top-three spot, especially with key fixtures against direct promotion rivals such as 3K FC, Kisumu All Stars, and Darajani Gogo still to come.

“We have achieved our first objective of remaining competitive throughout the season. Now, with four matches to go, we are targeting maximum points. The boys are motivated, and finishing in the top three is within our reach,” said Odero.

“We’ve worked hard all season, and we’re not about to slow down. The competition is tight, but our focus is sharp. We know what is at stake, and the team spirit is high,” he added.

Odero, a CAF B license holder and a teacher by profession, took over the reins in April 2025 following the resignation of Michael Etimong in March. Etimong departed after a poor run that saw him win only two of his last 10 games, drawing four and losing four.

“My boys know what they want, and they understand the task ahead. We’ve stabilized after a rocky spell, and I hope that momentum carries into the Mombasa Stars game. After that, we’ll see how far we can go in the final four matches,” Odero stated with optimism.

Fortune Sacco is currently enjoying an eight-match unbeaten run under Odero—six wins and two draws—and the coach is determined to extend this streak through to the end of the season.

On the other end of the table, Saturday’s opponents Mombasa Stars are locked in a relegation fight. Despite a difficult campaign marred by financial struggles and inconsistent form, the coastal side remains determined to secure their league status. Their remaining fixtures—against Fortune Sacco, Naivas, Nzoia United, and Kibera—will be crucial in their survival bid.

Meanwhile, Kibera, still harboring promotion ambitions, will look to bounce back from a narrow 3-2 defeat to Nzoia United when they face second-placed APS Bomet on Sunday. Assistant coach Edwin Lavatsa insists that the dream of Premier League promotion is still alive.

“We dropped crucial points last weekend, so our only option is to win the next match. That loss gave our rivals an advantage, but we still have five games left—anything can happen. We have to keep the dream alive and do the needful,” Lavatsa said.

The relegation battle in the NSL is heating up, with Mombasa Stars and SS Assad fighting to avoid the drop. Their performances in the coming weeks will be decisive in determining their fate.