Mara Sugar picks crucial points as race for promotion intensifies
The race for Premiership promotion is gathering pace by the day with teams jostling for crucial top places as the 2023/24 FKF-National Super League campaign enters the last quarter.
Mara Sugar FC which is currently third on the log with 56 points with a game in hand are certainly the form team currently having won five matches on the trot. The Narok based sugar men are keen to overturn the tables and possibly go top if they manage victory tomorrow in their extra game when they face neighbors Migori Youth under Kevin Oluoch at Awendo Green Stadium.
At the weekend, Mara emerged 2-0 winners over Darajani Gogo to continue with their good run as they presently stand on a league leading +33-goal difference off 17 wins in the season. The past two seasons have been a mixed bowl for the sugar belt based side but this year; they have found their mojo and are giving the leading pack a serious run for their money.
Meanwhile second placed Naivas FC are slowly losing ground after failing to collect maximum points in the last three matches. The Retail giants lost Saturday to 10 man Kibera Black Stars 3-2 at Ligi Ndogo Grounds thus complicating their title ambitions. Currently on 58 points however, they are very much in the running to at worst be in the playoffs place. With 28 matches played, Naivas have won 17 times this season and have a healthy goal difference of +31.
Leaders Mathare United are sitting pretty at the apex but only just. The slum boys, who were relegated last season from the top tier, are on 59 points off 28 matches and will be hoping all favor rests upon them until close of the season. At the weekend, the Francis Kimanzi led side saw off stuttering Kisumu All-Stars in fifth place, 3-1 at Camp Toyoyo Grounds. Given Kimanzi’s good reading of the game coupled by his experienced squad give him an edge in terms of a strong finish. The team has won three consecutive matches and have a goal difference of +20 currently.
Meanwhile rank outsiders Nairobi United FC in fourth place are currently doing themselves little favors following their 1-0 loss to fellow newbies Rainbow FC in sixth place. Currently on 53 points, Nairobi United have dropped five points in the last two matches and will need to be alive to the playoff battle with the season quickly winding down.
