By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,

Reminiscent of a developed baby in the womb,the Tusker premier league is in its final stages,only awaiting the actual delivery date.And unlike childbirth that has no definite timing,this one(league)could be decided by nightfall today.

With just a fortnight on the football calendar to call it wraps,Gor Mahia can certainly sniff the apex.The tape beckons for them.The race has been narrowed down to three from the initial five and defending champions Gor have their destiny firmly in their hands.

What’s more,they have the added luxury of time and even slight room for error,should things not go entirely their way.
We take an indepth look at the top five coming to the final bend,the homestretch.

GOR MAHIA

For a team that has gone an entire season without a smooth cash flow following their lost deal with a dairy company,the defending champions have surprised many,not least themselves.They have exceeded expectations.

Worse still,a large spanner was thrown into their works when title-winning coach Bobby Williamson left them midway through,to assume the reins at national team Harambee stars.In came Frank Nutall and sceptics could not help seeing troubled times ahead at the club.
They have weathered the turbulent storms brilliantly.

Victory today will see them retain the title with two games to spare.They will have amassed 57 points,too high a ceiling for Tusker,who trail them by four points having played a game more.Lest it escapes our collective memory,Tusker have Muhoroni Youth ghosts to exorcise,the FKF having recalled their ‘boardroom victory’ over the Nyanza side.
With all these factors at play,Gor can put the champagne on ice.

TUSKER

Arguably Kenya’s best funded club,Tusker boast of some of the league’s best facilities besides having a large,well renumerated pool of talent to pick their team from.And with the East African Breweries bankrolling their campaign,running roughshod over opponents should be a routine procedure.
Wrong hypothesis.

Early this season they shifted their base to Meru in a move that saw them harvest myriads of fans.They played with renewed vigour and confidence.Until lately when their once unstoppable locomotive ran out of steam.

Francis Kimanzi’s men have groped for form and a recent hefty fine slapped on one of their top officials for ‘inappropriate’ remarks towards the KPL underlines just how much heat the alemen have had to contend with.The unresolved Muhoroni result is a distraction that will surely take a toll on their collective psych.

It hangs above their heads like the proverbial sword of damocles.However,their subsequent win over Ushuru will replenish their dwindling energy levels.They will be lurking on the wings for any Gor slip-ups,highly unlikely at this point in time.
Still,rule them out at your own peril.

SOFAPAKA

This team is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.They must prevent Gor from retaining the league title by nothing short of victory.A draw will only delay the inevitable.Thereafter,they must hope and pray that other results go their way and Gor falter along the way.In summary,their destiny is not in their hands.For the record,their final two matches are against a limping Leopards and fellow contenders Tusker.In such duels,bloody noses are a common sight.

To their credit,Sofapaka have gone about their business quietly,efficiently and virtually unnoticed.They have had their fair challenge of finances but have refused to let that dog their campaign.In Ugandan Sam Timbe,they have a crafty,calculating tactician who has managed to instil a strong balance and equilibrium in the side.They pose the biggest threat to Gor Mahia.

ULINZI STARS

When you see a military side play sleek flowing football and grinding results along the way,you have to marvel at the tactics of the coach.For a team known to play physical,rugged soccer,Ulinzi are lately playing touch and go football that is a delight to watch.Their goal against Thika is testimony to that fact.

Robert Matano took over from Salim Ali when the team was languishing in the lower reaches,in dire need of a strong head to steer their radar-less ship to safer waters.Consequently,the Lanet army team has blazed its way to the top five and although the title is well beyond their reach,they will be glad of their comeback prowess.

CHEMELIL SUGAR

Chemelil were early pacesetters and on occasions actually flirted with the idea of becoming champions.Claiming big scalps along the way strengthened their belief and improved their title credentials.

Mike Mururi has an exciting mix of youngters and experienced war-horses who have made the Awasi millers a formidable side.They will not win the league this term by virtue of mathematics not adding up,but they have taken their place among the big boys.They now have bragging rights at the high table and are one of the upcountry clubs that gave the ‘elite’ Nairobi teams a run for their money.