A total of nine matches have been lined up across the country on Sunday, and they will all kick off at the same time. All eyes will be on the law enforcers versus Shabana game with a draw for the side handing them their first-ever league title in their history.
Police are currently sitting top of the 18-team league table with 61 points from 32 matches. A draw against Tore Bobe will increase their tally of points to an unassailable 62 with a game to spare. Second-placed Gor Mahia and Tusker can only reach 61 points if they win their remaining two matches.
Should Police secure a draw on Sunday, they will automatically bring to an end Gor Mahia’s dominance in the league. K’Ogalo were aiming to win a third consecutive title, having won the last two titles to reach a record 21 league titles in the history of the league.
After Tusker won the title in the 2021/22 season after amassing 66 points, Gor Mahia took control winning the 2022/23 crown with 70 points, one more than the Brewers. K’Ogalo managed 20 wins, 10 draws and suffered four defeats while Tusker secured 20 wins, nine draws and lost five matches.
In the 2023/24 campaign when K’Ogalo wrote history, they did it in style after beating Tusker to second spot with eight clear points. They amassed 73 points from 21 wins, 10 draws, and three defeats while Tusker managed 65 points accumulated from 20 wins, five draws and nine defeats.
A Cup triumph for Police in the Shabana game will guarantee them a parade of honour from outgoing champions Gor Mahia when the two sides face off in their final game of the season on Sunday, June 22nd. The win will also guarantee them a direct ticket to represent Kenya at the lucrative CAF Champions League for next season.
Police wary of Shabana
However, Police coach Etienne Ndayiragije has promised a cautious approach when they come up against a Shabana side, who beat them 1-0 in the first-round fixture at Gusii Stadium.
“We all know, and understand the importance of this game, but for now, I am not looking at the table, my focus is on how we can beat Shabana, the table I can look at afterwards,” the Burundian tactician told Flashscore.
“Shabana are a difficult side, we struggled to beat them at their backyard, and with a lot at stake in this match, it is not going to be an easy one, remember Shabana are fighting to finish among the top three teams, and if they win this game, and maybe win their last and top three drop points, then they have a chance to hit their target.
“We will approach the game with a lot of caution, knowing that this is football and anything can happen, we will talk about the title after the game, and remember we still have another remaining game against Gor Mahia.”
Shabana are lying fifth with 52 points, and if they manage to win their remaining two games, including the Police fixture, they will reach 58 points, which can guarantee them a second-place finish if Gor Mahia, Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz lose their remaining matches.
“We have done enough preparations for the Police game, and all we know is we have six points from the remaining matches which we want to take to finish the season, we want to finish the season on high,” Shabana coach Peter Okidi told Flashscore.
“We were in the title race until we stumbled against Mara Sugar but now we want to give our fans a second-place finish, it is in our reach, we only need to do the necessary and win the remaining matches. We need to give the fans something to smile about at the end of the season, and for us the focus is on the two games, and the next game is against Police, it will be a Cup final game for us.
“We are confident with the way the players have been training during the FIFA international break, we are heading to Nairobi to come back with three points.”
In the history of the league, Police and Shabana have met eight times, with the law enforcers registering four wins, Shabana picking two wins and two matches ending in a draw. Last season, the first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw at Shabana’s backyard before Police edged them out 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Police Sacco Stadium.
Gor Mahia fans have not lost hope
While Gor Mahia interim coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno kissed goodbye their title hopes following the 1-1 draw against AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji derby before the international break, Gor Mahia fans are not throwing in the towel yet, calling on Shabana to help beat Police to revive their chances.
After the Ingwe game at Homabay Stadium, Otieno told the media: “I don’t think there is any other chance apart from the knockout games because as you can see now the gap is widening between us and Kenya Police. Now we can’t talk about the league title anymore.”
Gor Mahia fans are hoping that Shabana can do them a favour, and they have even written a letter to the Kisii-based Glamour Boys requesting that they don’t allow Police to win the title. Ahead of their game against Ulinzi Stars on Sunday, K’Ogalo have posted a message on their social media pages urging their fans not to lose hope and to fill the stadium, and support the team.
“Believe, not only in this team, but also in the process. At K’Ogalo, we still have a sense of belief that the title is still coming home. Sunday is the deciding day. Let’s meet at Ulinzi Complex early enough to give our boys the support they truly need. It’s still coming home ... Believe in this team,” read the statement.
Should Shabana manage to stop Police, and Gor Mahia win their matches against Ulinzi and Police, they will move level on points with the latter on 61 points, and head-to-head could be decided to determine the winner. However, it should be remembered that Police beat Gor Mahia 1-0 in the first-round meeting.
Looking at the goal difference, Police have 20 while K’Ogalo have 22. Police have scored 36 goals and conceded 16 while Gor Mahia have scored 43 goals, and conceded 21.
Third-placed Tusker can also reach 61 points if they win their remaining matches starting with Sunday's fixture at home against Kariobangi Sharks before they wind the season with a trip to face Kakamega Homeboyz.
Tusker have won 15 matches, drawn 10 and lost seven while third-placed Homeboyz can afford to reach 60 points from the remaining two matches. They currently have 54 points garnered from 14 wins, 12 draws, and six defeats.
Relegation battle very close
In the relegation battle, 15th-placed Posta Rangers, Murang’a Seal, Bidco United, and bottom-placed Nairobi City Stars are all facing the axe. Posta have 34 points, Murang’a have 33 points, Bidco have collected 32 points while City Stars have collected 31 points.
It means the race to decide which two teams will go down, could be decided at the end of the season on Sunday, June 22nd since the four bottom-placed are tightly close to each other, and fighting to keep their status in the top-flight.
Sunday's FKF Premier League fixtures:
KCB vs Nairobi City Stars – SportPesa Arena – 3pm
Mara Sugar vs Murang’a Seal – Awendo Stadium – 3pm
Bidco United vs Kakamega Homeboyz – Thika Stadium - 3pm
Posta Rangers vs Sofapaka – Utalii Grounds – 3pm
FC Talanta vs AFC Leopards – Dandora Stadium – 3pm
Mathare United vs Bandari FC – Kasarani Annex – 3pm
Tusker vs Kariobangi Sharks – Ruaraka Stadium – 3pm
Kenya Police vs Shabana – Machakos Stadium – 3pm
Ulinzi Stars vs Gor Mahia – Ulinzi Complex – 3pm
