Tusker inch closer to the top of the table

Reigning Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Tusker were the big winners of the weekend.

Not only did they halt AFC Leopards 10-match unbeaten run this season, but they also climbed two places to second in the standings.

Before the match, Leopards held a commanding a six points over their closest rivals, but the brewers managed to move within 4 points after hitting the erstwhile unbeaten Ingwe 2-0 on Saturday at Mombasa’s Mbaraki Sports Club.

However, Leopards maintained pole position with 26 points, followed by Tusker with 22 points. Chemelil Sugar stayed put in third spot a point behind Tusker despite only managing a barren draw with bottom Nairobi City Stars on Sunday.

Sofapaka lost valuable ground after slumping to their second straight league loss. Batoto baMungu, who lost 1-0 to Thika United are now fourth on the log with 20 points.

Thika United, who handed Sofapaka their third loss of the season, complete the top five bracket with 17 points.

Immediate former champions Ulinzi mustered a 1-0 win over Gor Mahia in Nakuru to snuff out K’Ogalo’s brief reprieve after they ended an eight match winless streak last weekend over Sofapaka.

However, Ulinzi were non-movers at position nine with 15 points while Gor dropped one place to 12th. Karuturi Sports also returned to winning ways beating their hosts KCB 2-1 on Saturday at the Nairobi City Stadium to move two places to sixth with Western Stima, Muhoroni Youth Ulinzi Stars and KCB also among the top ten teams. T

he other significant result of the weekend was Sony Sugar’s 3-1 win over Ranger at the former’s adopted Gusii Stadium. Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno’s side were the early pacesetters at the beginning of the season, but prior to Saturday’s match, the sugar millers had gone eight matches without a win.

They moved two places to 11th with 11points. The result piled misery on the financially troubled Rangers who dropped to the bottom of the log with 8 points. Nairobi City Stars swapped places with Rangers at the bottom of the table, after holding Chemelil to a barren draw at Hope Center in Kawangware.

City Stars and Rangers are tied on 8 points though the former have a better goal difference. Oserian are one place above the bottom two, while Mathare United and Gor are only two points from safety.

Nesta Kizito

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