A 7-0 thrashing on Saturday at the hands of Kariobangi Sharks left Muhoroni Youth staring at relegation.
With three matches left and a seven-point gap between them and safety, Muhoroni could be dropped from the top tier on Sunday if Thika United and Muhoroni Youth who are 15th and 16th on the log pick wins.
The gap will stretch to 10 points and mathematically impossible to close. Jeff Odongo, the stand-in Muhoroni Youth coach admitted their chances are all but gone.
“This is all but over. It has been a tough season for us with all the financial issues we have faced. The team has not been stable and now, we need to go back and re-strategize how we will get back to the league,” a dejected Odongo told Sports News Arena after the match.
The team’s future remains uncertain.
“We really don’t know what the future holds but the management has been trying to get a new sponsor on board. We will just be patient and wait,” Odongo said.
Muhoroni were lethargic in their approach against Kariobangi Sharks, and the Premier League newcomers turned the match into a training session.
Massoud Juma scored for in the huge victory, taking his season haul to 15 goals and making himself the league’s top scorer in the process.
The demolition
“There was so much talk when I was called into the national team and people said so many bad things. That has been my motivation and I have been working hard to show them that I have talent and I can do big things,” Juma said after his man-of-the-match performance.
He began his scoring spree early in the first half, scoring two goals within two minutes. In the ninth minute, he powered his way into the box from a Patillah Omotto before shooting into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later, he picked a pass from Sven Yidah, before shooting low past Gradus Ochieng.
Sharks were relaxed in their approach, passing casually but still managed to open up their visitors backline.
A minute later though, Kariobangi Sharks were 3-0 up. Duke Abuya rose unmarked at the backpost to head in from an Ochieng cross.
The drive and the desire was missing as the sugar belt side played without any urgency despite their position on the log.
The hosts went on to dominate and made it four nine minutes from halftime when Ovellah Ochieng struck a low shot from the left after a quick start to a corner.
It turned to be a Massoud Juma show in the second half with Sharks now targeting to give every ball to their top striker and aid his bid for the golden boot.
Four minutes after the restart, he struck this third of the afternoon he was put through by Abuya and once again used his pace and power to beat his defenders and shoot low past the keeper.
Sharks made it 6-0 in the 69th minute with Cavin Odongo scoring with his first touch of the game, just seconds after coming on for Ovella.
Fifteen minutes to time, Massoud got his 15th of the season, with the simplest of tap ins from a Paul Kamau low cross. KPL weekend results and fixtures (All matches kick off 3 p.m. unless stated)
Saturday: Kakamega Homeboyz 2 Chemelil Sugar 2 (Mumias Complex), Kariobangi Sharks 7 Muhoroni Youth 0 (Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani).
Sunday: Tusker FC v Thika United (Ruaraka Complex), Mathare United v Nzoia Sugar (2 p.m.), AFC Leopards v Nakumatt (4 p.m. Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani), Bandari v Posta Rangers (Mbaraki Complex), Sony Sugar v Sofapaka (Awendo Stadium), Western Stima v Ulinzi Stars (Moi Stadium, Kisumu), Zoo Kericho v Gor Mahia (Afraha Stadium, Nakuru).
