Five talking points from the FKF Premier League MD26

Matchday 26 of the Kenyan Premier League served us with the second installment of the Mashemeji Derby this season as rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards clashed at the Nyayo Stadium.

Fans from both teams flooded the stadium and not even the likelihood of a heavy downpour had anyone leaving the match which was played on a knife edge following an early red card.

Here are the five talking points from the weekend.

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Derby delight for Gor Mahia

The biggest match of the weekend, the Mashemeji Derby, didn’t disappoint. And it was another day for Gor Mahia fans to banter their AFC Leopards counterparts as Austin Odhiambo’s first-half strike handed the points and bragging rights to the league leaders.

Leopards went into the match feeling quite confident, and rightly so. They had lost only once in their previous 13 meetings, conceding a mere three goals in the process. I can’t remember the last time they went into a derby in such fine form.

Their fans, sitting at the away end, outnumbered and even seemed to bully the hosts’ fans but that was until the half-hour mark when old boy Odhiambo capitalized on a goalkeeping howler from Levis Opiyo to score what would be the only goal of the match.

Leopards were given a perfect opportunity to draw level and even win the match following the dismissal of Gor Mahia keeper Kevin Omondi after 35 minutes.

However, while they threatened more after the red card, they failed to give any big test to replacement keeper Caleb Omondi who made his derby debut and passed with flying colours.

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Sofapaka looking nervously over their shoulders in battle to stay up

With just seven matches before the season folds, nothing is decided yet and won’t be any time soon if you are talking about the tail end of the table.

Nzoia Sugar’s race in the topflight looks run but the battle for which other team will join them in the National Super League next season rumbles on.

Shabana currently occupy the 17th position which also ensures automatic relegation but they are only a point adrift of Muhoroni Youth who are in the relegation-promotion playoff spot. Those two you reckon will be thereabouts over the next couple of weeks but theirs is the risk that Sofapaka, who are only two points clear of safety, could be dragged into the mix.

Batoto ba Mungu are winless over their last seven matches and have a tough run-in which includes matches against Shabana, free-scoring Kariobangi Sharks, title-chasing Gor Mahia and away trips to Nairobi City Stars and Bandari.

With belief running through the veins of Shabana, and Muhoroni boss Moses Adagala swearing that his team is pushing for a top ten finish, you can’t help but worry for 2009 champions Sofapaka.

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Lightning strikes twice for Opiyo

Back to the derby, it was a case of deja vu for AFC Leopards goalkeeper Levis Opiyo as his error ended up being the decisive moment of the game. Of course, the blame will fall on the keeper after taking one too many touches on the ball but the pass from Kennedy Owino with two Gor Mahia players pressing inside the box would put any keeper under pressure.

Opiyo buckled and conceded a goal that will not do him any favors in his love-hate relationship with the Ingwe faithful.

The former Wazito FC keeper can excite and frustrate in equal measure but this season, there’s been more of the latter as he has helped Leopards keep the second meanest defence in the league, coincidentally behind Gor Mahia.

But football is an unfair game. You can be a cult hero this minute and a total villain the next. For goalkeepers who happen to be the last line of defence, that swing can happen pretty quickly as Opiyo learnt in this game.

His error had many fans and pundits scouring for archive footage of the same mistake that cost Leopards the Madaraka Cup title in 2022.

The similarities were there, the pain, unendurable even though you may make a case for the men ahead of the keeper failing to beat ten men for nearly an hour.

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Okello draws level in Golden Boot race

Benson Omalla worked his socks off for Gor Mahia after they were reduced to 10 men in the derby.

As often is the case, a forward player, Musa Masika being the unlucky one, had to be withdrawn early following the straight red card shown to keeper Kevin Omondi for denying Leopards striker Victor Omune a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Gor had been in total control of the match but the red card tipped the level in favour of the visitors. It meant that they had to try to consolidate what they had, a 1-0 advantage. Consolidation also meant that Omalla was rarely having touches in the opposition box which is the last thing you want as a striker chasing for Golden Boot honors.

His rivals, and especially Tito Okello, took maximum advantage. The South Sudan and Police FC striker was on penalty-taking duties, which came in twos, in the 2-1 success over Sofapaka.

Thomas Kakaire gave Sofapaka the lead at the quarter-hour mark but Okello’s twin penalties on either side of halftime gave Police the win.

It was his 11th and 12th goals of the season which puts him level with Omalla who endured a barren weekend.

Two-time Golden Boot winner, Eric Kapaito kept himself in the conversation with his 10th goal of the season which earned Tusker a 1-0 success at Ulinzi Stars. You expect those three to keep pushing each other until the end of the season.

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City Stars loading a strong finish

Nairobi City Stars look like they have moved on swiftly from the controversies that led to their defeat against Muhoroni Youth a fortnight ago. Their response has been emphatic and full of goals.

They put three unanswered goals past Murang’a Seal in the immediate game after Muhoroni and were just as generous to the detriment of Talanta FC this weekend.

Dennis Oalo, who scored the second against Murang’a, got them going at Talanta FC with Elvis Noor and Mohammed Omar also scoring to wrap up the points.

Simba Wa Nairobi had looked like title contenders early in the season but a string of inconsistent results saw them lose their way but they are setting themselves up nicely for a top three finish.

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