The chasing pack trio of Gaspo Women, Ulinzi Starlets, and Thika Queens have one common mission this weekend playing catch-up with leaders Vihiga Queens in the race to win this season’s Football Kenya Federation (FKF) women’s premier league title.

Vihiga has opened an impressive nine-point lead at the top of the women’s league (38 points), taking advantage of the chasing trio who coincidentally dropped two crucial points each last weekend to dent their hopes of toppling the Vihiga side.

On the table standing, Gaspo is in second place (29 points), Ulinzi Starlets in third place (27 points), and defending champions Thika Queens in fourth place (27 points). This weekend they will try to redeem their campaign by returning to winning ways, which they say, is the only route to get back into the title race contention.

Gaspo drew with Thika 0-0 while Ulinzi drew with Wadadia FC 1-1 and now faces another daunting task in today’s and tomorrow’s matches. Gaspo has a home name to claim when they host Zetech Sparks at Stima Club, Nairobi from 3:00pm. Thika also at their backyard, Thika Stadium, will face off with visiting Nakuru City Queens at 3:00pm. Ulinzi are on an away mission when they tour Luanda to take on hosts Bunyore Starlets at Mumboha Stadium from 3:00pm.

And from a distance, Trans Nzoia Falcons in fifth place (25 points), Zetech Sparks in sixth place (21 points), and Nakuru City Queens (19 points) are also silently harbouring the same mission with the top four sides in the race to close in on leading Vihiga Queens. However, their realistic chances are almost next to none, now that Zetech and Nakuru have one last match to stay in the race if they win this weekend. If they lose and Vihiga wins, then they’ll be completely out of the race.

Meanwhile, Vihiga are is eyeing to reclaim the league title, which they lost to current holders Thika Queens. If they win this season, it will be their fourth in five seasons (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022). They are embarking on a journey to Kisumu to look horns with the home team Kisumu All-Starlets tomorrow from 3:00pm at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.

At the other end of the league, the battling trio of Kisumu All-Starlets (third last with 10 points), Kayole Starlets (second last with nine points) and tail-enders, Kangemi Ladies (last with only four points) are entrenched at the bottom. They are hooked to be axed and from now on, they will need a massive turnaround if they are to survive the chop at the close of the season.

However, but seemingly below tight leaps, once again the clubs are threatening to boycott this weekend’s games demanding their monthly grants since February saying they are suffering. They said since last week the Caretaker Committee has been promising to send cash in a few days but up to now no club has received anything, vowing, no cash, no games this weekend.    -GIBO ZACHARY