Title ours to lose, bullish Zico chides rivals

After silencing holders Tusker 2-0 in Saturday’s Kenyan Premier League match at the Kericho Green Stadium, Gor Mahia assistant coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno believes that they have everything going for them in the title race.

Gor are now 45 points instead of 54, after the Kenyan Premier league released an amended table following a court order that effectively knocked Zoo Kericho and Nakumatt out of the league, in the meantime.

This means that all points won or lost against the two sides does not count.With the revised structure, K’Ogalo are now just five points ahead of closest challengers, Kakamega Homeboyz, who have leaped up to position two.This makes for an intriguing title fight as the race has been flung open.

However, despite the changes,  Zico, a former Gor and Harambee Stars defender is adamant that there is no club that can catch up with the imperious K’Ogalo with an average of six rounds of matches left.

“The talk should be about next season. This (2017 league title) one is gone; it is unimaginable letting any club overtake us at this stage,” Zico charged, adding that, “you can see the determination of our players. The main challengers are also accepting it.”

K’Ogalo will lock horns with Sofapaka in a midweek fixture, which, if they win, could see them open a further lead ta the apex of the log .

Up in smoke

At the same time, Tusker’s George ‘Best’ Nsimbe has conceded their title hopes after Saturday’s defeat to K’Ogalo.  The brewers are seventh placed on 33 points, 12 below the run-away leaders Gor.

“We are absolutely out of the race. We can now only plan for next season, but we must fight to finish in a better position, probably number two,” Nsimbe said.

At the tail end of the log, only three points separate the last four teams – Western Stima at position 13 with 22 points – and rock bottom Muhoroni Youth who have continued to cling onto the wooden spoon  with 19points. Mathare United and Thika United are placed  14^th and 15^th respectively on 20 and 19 points.