John Kamau confident Mathare will maintain KPL status

By , April 19, 2025

Mathare United head coach John Kamau has exuded optimism of the club retaining its top league status at the end of the 2025 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League campaign.

Kamau, however, believes the team faces an uphill task in fulfilling the pledge and has warned his charges to brace for a battle, beginning with the immediate test on Sunday’s trip to rivals Bidco United.

The Slum Boys will face off with the struggling Thika-based club on Sunday at the Moi Stadium in Machakos County.

“It will be a dog fight against Bidco. They are a team who have been in this league for a long time and have a number of experienced players in their ranks. The most important thing I would urge is for my players to be wary and not to keep their guard down. We need to handle the game with the seriousness it deserves,” Kamau told the club’s media site.

Mathare United players celebrate after Parmenas Ochola (c) scored a goal against Dimba Patriots in their NSL match on Sunday. PHOTO/David Ndolo
Mathare United players celebrate after Parmenas Ochola (c) scored a goal against Dimba Patriots in their NSL match. PHOTO/David Ndolo

Kamau has attributed a recent turn of form at the Slum Boys’ camp as a factor he says could prove vital to their quest for survival.

“This team is shaping up well when we are approaching a crucial phase of the league where how you perform s determine a lot. Our current form is at the top there among the best six teams and it gives me a good feeling that we are picking at the right time of the league,” he said.

Kamau revealed that his arrival at the club was incidental with a mood of despair engulfing the club amid a looming threat of a return to the National Super League (NSL). He, however, revealed that they have reversed the trend with sessions of encouraging and motivational talks coupled with on-pitch results.

“Most people thought we were working on a doomed project and not destined to bear any fruits, but I have always been confident and urged the people within the set-up to believe in the process,” he added.

The season trainer maintains that his experience with stints spanning over 10 years while in charge of different KPL sides, will be crucial to conjuring up an escape route.

“I have been in this league for a decade now and i know what it entails. In most cases, if you get to 35 points it is very difficult to be relegated,” he added.

Heading in to their match week 27 game, Slum Boys are ranked at tenth with 33 points, seven points above the relegation play-off spot occupied by Muranga Seal.

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